Find out how popular the last name Sankey is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Sankey.

Sankey, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Sankey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sankey in America

Sankey is the 9114th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sankey surname appeared 3,584 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Sankey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sankey to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Sankey

The surname Sankey is an English locational name derived from the parish of Sankey in Lancashire, England. The name is believed to have originated in the 13th century, derived from the Old English words "sand" meaning sandy and "ac" meaning oak tree, referring to a sandy area near oak trees.

The earliest recorded reference to the surname Sankey dates back to the 13th century, with mentions of individuals bearing the name in the Lancashire Pipe Rolls from 1246. The name was also recorded in the Lancashire Assize Rolls in 1285, indicating its presence in the region during that period.

In the 14th century, the surname Sankey appeared in the Wills and Inventories of the Archdeaconry of Richmond, Yorkshire, further solidifying its presence in northern England. The name was also mentioned in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332, providing evidence of its continued use in the area.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Sankey was Richard de Sanky, who was mentioned in the Lancashire Assize Rolls in 1285. Another notable figure from history was William Sankey, a merchant from London who lived in the late 16th century and was involved in trade with the Americas.

In the 17th century, the name Sankey was found in various records, including the Hearth Tax Returns of Lancashire in 1663, the Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills in 1677, and the Lancashire Inquests in 1686.

John Sankey, born in 1616, was a prominent member of the Society of Friends (Quakers) and a notable figure in the early years of the Quaker movement in England. Another individual of note was Jeremiah Sankey, born in 1660, who served as a Member of Parliament for Huntingdonshire in the late 17th century.

The 18th century saw the name Sankey continue to be associated with various professions and locations. One notable example was Joseph Sankey, a renowned clockmaker born in 1718 in Warrington, Lancashire, whose clocks were highly prized for their quality and craftsmanship.

As the centuries passed, the Sankey name spread throughout England and beyond, with individuals bearing the surname making contributions in various fields, including politics, academia, and the arts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sankey

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Sankey.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Sankey was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Sankey has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Sankey was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Sankey, please contact us.

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