Rank Family History
Rank Name Meaning
English: nickname for a powerfully built man or someone of violent emotions from Middle English rank ‘proud headstrong stout-hearted’ (Old English ranc ‘proud rebellious’). English: from a Middle English personal name Ranke a back-formation from the diminutive Rankin . South German: variant of Rang This surname is also found in France (Alsace and Lorraine). North German: nickname for someone who was tall and thin from Middle Low German rank. The surname may also be from a personal name formed with this element. Czech: from a pet form of a personal name which could be either Slavic Ranožir based on the element ran ‘early’ or ancient Germanic Randolf (see Randolph ). Swedish and Danish: nickname from rank ‘erect upright straight’.
Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022