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.

Though Mac Rancan was the chief of a sept in Westmeath in the thirteenth century and that name would presumably be anglicized MacRankin or Rankin, it appears to be obsolete there. Rankin is a numerous name in Derry and adjacent counties. There it is of Scottish origin, Rankin being a branch of the Clan Maclean of Coll. The name appears in the records of the early seventeenth century Plantation of Ulster in the parish of Artrea, Co. Tyrone, and an inquisition of 1629 shows that one William Rankin was in possession of land at Magherybeg, Co. Donegal, at that date. In the Hearth Money Rolls later in the century (1663-69)there are five of the name in those for Co. Antrim, five in Co. Donegal and two in Co. Derry, but none in Co. Tyrone. The name Rankin is formed from the diminutive of the christian name Randolph.

1 = Rand (q.v.) 2 = Rain(e (q.v.) + the English diminutive suff. -kin [O.L. Ger.-k-ín]

In Derry and adjacent counties, where it is numerous, Rankin is a Scottish name, that of a branch of the clan Maclean. It came to Ireland with the Plantation of Ulster at the beginning of the seventeenth century. SIF 129

“Little Raven-Wolf” in Old German (Randolf).

(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.

Ralph, William, Bernard Roncin, Normandy 1180-95 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae).

From the Flemish, Renkin; a personal name.