Show ContentsBlank History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Blank family

The surname Blank was first found in Holland, where the name became noted for its many branches in the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region. The name was first recorded in North Holland, a province of the Netherlands. The principal cities are Amsterdam, Haarlem and Hilversum. It was the seat of the old Counts of Holland. Seat of one of the oldest families is Brederode Castle near Haarlem. There are many old and quaint towns in the province. including Medemblik, Enkhuizen, Hoorn, Edam, and Monnikendam. In their later history the surname became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into this most influential family.

Early History of the Blank family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blank research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Blank History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Blank Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Blank, Blanke, Blankes, Blankk, Blannk, Blaank, Blaanks, Blannkes, van Blank, van der Blank and many more.

Early Notables of the Blank family

From this era of Dutch history, those of this who distinguished themselves included

  • the Blank family of Holland

Blank Ranking

In the United States, the name Blank is the 2,160th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 1


United States Blank migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Blank Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Henry Blank who settled in Virginia in 1701
  • Niklaas Blank, who arrived in New York in 1709 2
  • Christian Blank, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1733 2
  • Hans Michel Blank, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1751 2
  • David Blank, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1754
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Blank Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Conrad Blank, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1803 2
  • Mr. Blank, who landed in Venezuela in 1842 2
  • Daniel Blank, aged 20, who landed in America in 1843 2
  • Karl Friedrich Blank, aged 32, who landed in America in 1843 2
  • Mrs. Blank, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Harriet"
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Blank Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Katharina Blank, who landed in North America in 1900 2

Australia Blank migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Blank Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Henry Blank, (b. 1872), aged 18, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Taroba" arriving in Queensland, Australia on 5th December 1890 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Blank (post 1700) +

  • Rebecca Margaret Blank (1955-2023), American economist and academic administrator, Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Madison (2013-2022), United States Secretary of Commerce (2012-2013)
  • Jessica Blank, American actress, writer, and director
  • Julius Blank (1925-2011), American semiconductor pioneer, member of the so-called traitorous eight, founder Fairchild Semiconductor
  • Hanne Blank (b. 1969), American historian, writer, editor and public speaker
  • Arthur M. Blank (b. 1942), American businessman and a co-founder of the home improvement retailer The Home Depot
  • Amanda Blank (b. 1983), born Amanda Mallory, an American singer, rapper and member of the performance art band Sweatheart
  • Joani Blank (1937-2016), American entrepreneur, writer and videographer
  • Martin Blank (b. 1962), American glass artist
  • Marc Blank, American computer game designer
  • Harrod Blank (b. 1963), American documentary filmmaker
  • ... (Another 24 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bismarck
  • Heinrich Blank (1921-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 4
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Frederick James Blank, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 5
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Henry Blank, aged 39, American First Class passenger from Glen Ridge, New Jersey who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping in life boat 7 6


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_queensland.pdf
  4. Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
  5. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  6. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


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