Surname Wilbank - Meaning and Origin

Wilbank: What does the surname Wilbank mean?

The surname Wilbank is of English origin and is believed to have derived from a place name. While there isn't a specific known meaning for the name, it can be dissected into two parts: “Wil” and “bank”. "Wil" could possibly be derived from the old English personal name "Will" or "William", meaning "will or desire" and "helmet or protection". On the other hand, "bank" is a geographical descriptor, often used to denote someone who lived near a ridge or hill, could stem from the Old Norse "bakki" or the Old English "banke". Therefore, theoretically, Wilbank can be construed to represent someone from 'William's ridge or hill'. However, it's important to acknowledge that surname meanings can be quite speculative, especially for ancient names whose definitive origins have been lost over time. As with most surnames, individuals using the name Wilbank may not have any connection to its theorized origins or meaning, as names can be adopted or changed for myriad reasons. The Wilbank surname appears most frequently in the United States, England, and Canada.

Wilbank: Where does the name Wilbank come from?

The last name Wilbank is most commonly found in United States. It is the 187,525th most common surname in the world, with an estimated population of 13,500 bearers. Historically, Wilbank is believed to have originated in England, though the exact origin is unknown.

In the US, Wilbank is most concentrated in Illinois, with an estimated population of 5,118, making it the 8,122nd most common name there. The next most populated states are Alabama with 2,195 bearers, Texas with 1,878 bearers, and Missouri with 1,022 bearers.

Wilbanks can also be found in Canada, primarily located in Nova Scotia, with an estimated population of 1,000. Other nations with Wilbank populations includes Australia, UK, South Africa, and New Zealand.

In the United States, Wilbanks tend to be clustered in a number of areas, including the agricultural states of Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee, where there is a long history of migrations among the states. Additionally, Wilbanks are also placed heavily in suburbs of large Texas cities such as Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. This could be attributed to the influx of Wilbanks during the Great Migration from the southern US during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

While there is not a single origin story for Wilbanks, this diverse surname has spread throughout the world and is now one of the more common last names.

Variations of the surname Wilbank

The surname Wilbank is an English name and can have the variants Wilbanks, Wilbanck, Willbank, Willbanks, and Willbanck. Additionally, the surname Wilbanks can also have a variant of Wilbans.

The surname Wilbank is derived from an Old English personal name, Willa, which was initially a short form of the name Wilhelm. This is derived from the Old German words ‘wil’ (determination, desire) and ‘helm’ (protection).

The spellings of the surname Wilbank are varied depending on the country or region from which it originates. In England it is spelt Wilbank, Wilbanks and Wilbanck, in Scotland Wilbank and Wilbanks, and in Germany Wilbans.

The surname Wilbank can also have the surnames of its different variants; Wilbanks can also be spelt Wilbans, Willbank and Willbanks, Willbanck, and Wilbank. Similarly, other surnames of the same origin include Wilables, Wilbrey, Willbourn, Wilbraugh, Wilkin, Wilkins and Wilkens.

The surname Wilbank is most common in the United States and the United Kingdom. It is also found in countries such as Scotland, Canada, and in much of western Europe.

Famous people with the name Wilbank

• Henry Wilbanks: American professional stage and film actor.
• Harvey Wilbanks: American pioneer car and airplane designer.
• Elizabeth Wilbanks: American writer and author of 'Tear Down and Rebuild'
• Benjamin Wilbanks: College football player turned music producer.
• Robert Wilbanks: American missionary, social entrepreneur, and humanitarian.
• Jeff Wilbanks: Former NFL player for the Kansas City Chiefs.
• Thomas Wilbanks: Professional golfer.
• Jordan Wilbanks: Businessman, entrepreneur, and venture capitalist.
• Joel Wilbanks: Emmy Award winning sound designer.
• Lee Wilbanks: Professional surfer.
• Emmett Wilbanks: American politician and five-term mayor of Texarkana Texas.
• Christine Wilbanks: Air Force veteran and combat pilot.
• Elizabeth Wilbanks: American mathematician and physicist.
• Clifford Wilbanks: Four-star general in the United States Navy.
• Richard Wilbanks: Co-founder of football team the Memphis Express.
• Leigh Wilbanks: NCAA Division I swimmer.
• Willie Wilbanks: Professional bull rider.
• Robert Wilbanks III: Former U.S. ambassador to India.
• Elijah Wilbanks: Grammy Award-winning producer.
• Tyler Wilbanks: Professional gamer as part of the Complexity Gaming team.

Other surnames

Wilbanks