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

Tanksley, 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 Tanksley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tanksley in America

Tanksley is the 9747th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tanksley surname appeared 3,325 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 Tanksley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tanksley 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 Tanksley

The surname Tanksley is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, specifically in the region of Cheshire. It is thought to be a locational name derived from a now-lost place called "Tangley" or a similar spelling variation. The name is believed to have evolved from the Old English words "tang" meaning "fork" or "tongue of land" and "ley" meaning "meadow" or "clearing."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Tanksley surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Cheshire from the year 1260, where a "Richard de Tangelegh" is mentioned. The name appears to have been concentrated in the Cheshire and Lancashire areas during its early history.

In the 14th century, records show a "John de Tanglegh" mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1344. The Subsidy Rolls of Cheshire from 1545 list a "Robert Tancksley," indicating the name's evolution to a more modern spelling.

A notable figure in the history of the Tanksley name was Sir John Tanksley (1602-1678), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Cheshire during the English Civil War. He was a staunch Royalist and supported King Charles I.

Another individual of historical significance was Richard Tanksley (1717-1789), a renowned English clockmaker from Lancashire. His intricate and highly accurate clocks were sought after by wealthy patrons throughout the 18th century.

In the 19th century, the Tanksley surname appears to have spread more widely across England, with records showing instances of the name in various counties. One notable figure from this period was Mary Tanksley (1839-1923), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights in education.

By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Tanksley name had also found its way to other parts of the English-speaking world, with individuals bearing the surname appearing in records from the United States, Canada, and other former British colonies.

Overall, the surname Tanksley has a rich history rooted in medieval England, with its origins likely tied to a specific location or settlement in the Cheshire region. While the name has evolved in spelling over time, it has maintained a presence throughout the centuries and has been associated with notable individuals in various fields, from politics and clockmaking to education and civil rights.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tanksley

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

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

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

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