This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Randolph,' from nick. Ran or Rand, and diminutive Rand-kin or Run kin. The first two instances below, however, rather point to Reyner or Reynold as the parent source. compare Rancock.

Gilbert Reynkyn, Kent, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Richard Reynkyn. Rolls of Parliament.

John Rankyn, Somerset, 1 Edward III: Kirby's Quest.

Elena Rankyn, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

1612. Giles Rankin, of London: Register of the University of Oxford.

A pet form of some name like Randolph with diminutive -kin added. The Irish have it as Raincin. The early home of the Rankins was in Ayrshire, where persons of the name were small proprietors before the end of the sixteenth century (Stodart, II, p. 369). John Rankyne, burgess of Glasgow, 1456 (REG., 380), may be John Rankin or Rankyn whose land is mentioned in 1468 (LCD., p. 181,254). Peter Rankyne of the Scheild appears in 1496 (Bucc. MSS.), and was witness in Kilmarnock, 1504 (Bain, IV, 1737). William Rankin is mentioned in connection with Innerkethin, 1500 (RAA, II, p. 404). Dominus Johannes Rankyn, chaplain, witness in Glasgow, 1503 (RMS, II; 2723; REG, p. 506), may be Schir John Rankin, vicar of Girwane, 1504 (Trials, I, p. 43). John Rankyn was rector of Hutoune, 1507; another John Rankin was tenant under the bishop of Aberdeen, 1511 (REA, I, p. 363); a third John Rankyn had a house in Irvine, 1533 (Irvine, I, p. 39); and still another John Rankin, a follower of the earl of Cassilis, was respited for murder, 1526 (RSS, I, 3386). Elspet Rankeyne is recorded in Aberdeen, 1570 (CRA., p. 270), John Rinking appears as witness in Glasgow, 1587 (Protocols, x), and William Rankine was a notary in Ayr, 1590 (Ayr, p. 116). As a forename we have it as early as 1429, when Rankin de Fowlartoun is in record in Ayr (Ayr, p. 83), Rankin de Craufurd and Rankin Small in Prestwick, 1446 (Prestwick, p. 144), Rankine de Symontone in Irvine, 1477 ( Irvine, I, 149), Rankinus Salmone in Glasgow, 1504 Simon, 111), and Rankyne Davidsoun, reidare at Gawstoun (Galston), 1574 (RMR.). In the records of the Scots Guards in France we have Ranequin Kennedy. Rankein 1678, Rankeine 1638, Rankene 1599, Rankinge 1555; Ranking, Rankini, Renkyn.

V. Rankin.

(English) Descendant of little Rand, pet form of Randal or Randolph (shield, wolf).

I always considered this a diminutive of Randolf (see Hankin); but there is a tradition of descent from one John, son of a knight called Jacob de Rankine, burgomaster of Ghent, who married a daughter of the head of the house of Keith, and became progenitor of the Rankines, Rankins, Rankens, Rankings, and Rangkings of Scotland, who are rather numerous in the West, and on the border. The tradition is, however, dateless and vague. Inf. M. H. Rankin, Esq.

This name may be derived from the Danish Rank, right, upright, erect. If the name is Gaelic, it would come from Roinn, a promontory, share, or division, and Ceann, head; the head of the promontory, a name of place. Ranken, in the Dutch, signifies pranks, tricks.