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

Tanking, 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 Tanking surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tanking in America

Tanking is the 137327th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tanking surname appeared 122 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Tanking.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tanking 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 Tanking

The surname Tanking is of English origin, with roots dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "tanc," which referred to a small pool or pond. Over time, this word evolved into the name Tanking, possibly indicating a family's association with a particular location or body of water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tanking can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in the village of Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire, in 1598. The entry mentions a John Tanking, who was a local landowner and farmer. This suggests that the name had already established itself in the region by the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the Tanking family appears to have spread across various parts of England. One notable example is Thomas Tanking, a merchant born in 1632 in the town of Woodstock, Oxfordshire. He is mentioned in several trade records from the period, indicating his involvement in the wool and textile trade.

The 18th century saw the Tanking name gain further prominence, with several individuals making their mark in various fields. One such figure was William Tanking (1705-1783), a renowned architect from Gloucestershire who was responsible for designing several notable buildings, including the Gloucester Cathedral's Cloisters.

In the 19th century, the Tanking surname found its way into literary circles. Robert Tanking (1823-1892) was a renowned poet and writer from Yorkshire, whose works explored themes of nature and the countryside. His collection of poems, "Verse from the Dales," published in 1878, received critical acclaim.

Another notable figure from this era was Elizabeth Tanking (1845-1912), a pioneering educator from Lancashire. She founded one of the first schools for girls in the region and was a strong advocate for women's education during a time when it was still a controversial topic.

As the 20th century dawned, the Tanking name continued to make its mark across various fields. One such individual was Sir Arthur Tanking (1903-1987), a celebrated scientist from Warwickshire whose groundbreaking research in the field of genetics earned him numerous accolades, including a knighthood in 1965.

Throughout its history, the surname Tanking has been associated with various locations and place names across England, often reflecting the areas where families bearing this name resided or had their roots. Examples include Tanking Village in Derbyshire, Tanking Moor in Yorkshire, and Tanking's Croft in Northumberland.

While the Tanking surname may not be among the most common in modern times, its rich history and diverse presence across various regions of England serve as a testament to its enduring legacy and the stories of the families who have carried this name through the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tanking

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

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 Tanking 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 Tanking 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 Tanking was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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