Blankenship
An English-language surname that looks like a coined or transferred name built from “blank” plus “ship,” though its exact origin is not securely established.
The #787 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 7,044 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The historical sources here do not give a firm derivation, and the name is best treated cautiously. It appears to be an English surname form built from elements that look like “blank” and “ship,” but the original sense is unclear and may be a later coined or altered family name rather than a straightforward medieval occupational or place-name surname. Because of that, the safest explanation is that the name’s etymology remains uncertain.
History
The name is documented in 19th-century American surname lists, showing that it was already established in English-speaking use by then. Modern US bearers are numerous enough for the name to be familiar, but the older material provided here does not explain how or where the surname first arose. The available excerpts also suggest the form was noteworthy enough to be noticed as an unusual-looking name.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
A 19th-century writer used Blankenship alongside other striking surnames as an example of how unusual English names can look on the page.
From the historical record
“Best. Blankenship. Bogy. Bouncer.”
— Ludus Patronymicus; or, the etymology of curious surnames