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

Wank, 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 Wank surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wank in America

Wank is the 45105th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wank surname appeared 475 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 Wank.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wank 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 Wank

The surname WANK is believed to have originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe, specifically in the areas that are now modern-day Germany and Austria. Its earliest recorded uses date back to the late 16th century.

One theory suggests that the name WANK may be derived from the German word "wanken," which means "to totter" or "to sway." This could indicate that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone who had a noticeable gait or physical mannerism.

Another possible origin of the WANK surname could be linked to a place name or a geographic feature. In some regions of Germany, the word "wank" was used to refer to a small, winding path or a narrow passage between hills or mountains. It's plausible that the surname may have been adopted by individuals who lived near or were associated with such a geographic location.

While there are no definitive records of the WANK surname appearing in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, some early documented instances of the name can be found in various German parish records and legal documents from the 16th and 17th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the WANK surname was Hans Wank, a farmer who lived in the village of Oberwang, near the town of Rosenheim in Bavaria, Germany. He was born around 1560 and is mentioned in local tax records from the late 16th century.

Another notable figure with the WANK surname was Johann Wank, a German theologian and writer who lived from 1592 to 1662. He was born in Nuremberg and is known for his works on Protestant theology and religious controversies of the time.

In the 18th century, a notable bearer of the WANK surname was Maria Wank, a celebrated Bavarian folk artist and painter who lived from 1720 to 1798. Her intricate woodcarvings and religious paintings were highly regarded in her time and can still be found in various churches and museums in southern Germany.

Moving into the 19th century, one prominent individual with the WANK surname was Karl Wank, a German architect and urban planner who was born in 1820 and died in 1892. He was responsible for the design and construction of several notable buildings and public spaces in the city of Munich.

Another historical figure with the WANK surname was Gustav Wank, a German military officer who served in the Prussian Army during the late 19th century. He was born in 1856 and played a significant role in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871, earning several military honors for his service.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wank

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!