Blanks
A surname with uncertain roots, probably tied to the old word blank meaning “white” or “fair.”
The #5,578 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 49,566 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The surname is usually linked to the old word blank, meaning bright, white, pale, or fair. In some traditions it is treated as a nickname for someone with a light complexion, while in others it may reflect an older personal name or be a variant of related forms such as Blank, Blanck, or Blanken. The historical evidence is not completely secure, so the name is best described as probably descriptive, but with some uncertainty.
History
The name appears in English records by the late medieval and early modern period, though the forms are often hard to separate from related surnames like Blank and Blanch. Dutch and German sources also show similar names, and some writers have suggested a continental personal-name origin rather than a purely English nickname. In modern usage, Blanks is found chiefly in English-speaking countries, including the United States.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Nineteenth-century surname writers disagreed about whether Blanks came from a descriptive nickname or from an older personal name, so it has remained one of those names with a built-in question mark.
From the historical record
“Blankson : St. Antholin (London^ p. 96. — John Cross and Elis. Blanks : Mar- riage AUeg. (Canterbury), P- 253. London, 4, o ; Philadelphia, 1, o. Blatherwlok.— Local, * of Bla-”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (alternate scan)