Rankin Family History, Genealogy & Ancestry

The Rankin Family

3,271 Rankin records from public death, burial and census records and the old county histories, in all 12 Midwestern states we cover. Every name is a real person in the public record, and we follow set rules to leave living people out (how).

3,271Records in our database

1821Earliest birth

1Documented families

6Biographies

See the Rankin family trees →185 Rankin families pieced together from public birth and death records, county histories and old newspapers

At a glance

3,271 Rankin records in our database

From public death, burial and census records across 12 Midwestern states. We follow set rules to leave living people out (how). Tap a state or a decade to narrow the list of ancestors below.

Where

fewer more

When they were born

Most records: Ohio (754 of 3,271)
Most common birth decade: the 1910s
Earliest birth in the database: Angus Rankin, born 1854, Michigan
Earliest in the county histories: Warren H. Rankin, born 1821

Most common first names

William98 John93 Robert92 James84 Mary83 Charles68 George55 Helen47 Ruth40 Harold29 Donald27 Margaret27

Documented families

Rankin families we have traced

Written from county histories and public records, every fact cited. We follow set rules to leave living people out (how).

Family histories, generation by generation (1)

The Rankin family of Clark CountyOhioStarts: James RankinMost recent: Warren H. Rankin (b. 1861)

The earliest Rankins in the county histories

Albert G. RankinBorn 1814, Worcester CountyChild of George Rankin and Martha Truitt. Mr. and Mis. RankinMadison County, Ohio R. C. RankinBorn 1821, Nicholas CountyChild of Rev. John Rankin and Jane (Lowery) RankinBrown County, Ohio Warren H. RankinBorn 1821Child of George RankinClark County, Ohio Smith RankinBorn 1822Fayette County, Ohio J. T. RankinBorn 1824Child of James Rankin and Margaret (Truitt) RankinMadison County, Ohio David RankinBorn 1825, Sullivan CountyAtchison County, Missouri

Family trees from the public record

185 Rankin families: parents, brothers and sistersFrom state birth and death indexes, county histories and old newspapers, most recent deaths first

In old newspapers

15 Rankin death notices, 1837 to 1925Obituaries and funeral notices from Midwest papers scanned by the Library of Congress, with the original pages

In the county history family index

42 Rankin people in 23 countiesBirth years, birthplaces, parents and spouses, from the old county histories

Biographies from the county histories (6)

Warren H. RankinBorn 1821 · Clark County, Ohio David RankinBorn 1825 · Atchison County, Missouri Thomas R. RankinBorn 1827 · Des Moines County, Iowa Harry M. RankinBorn 1859 · Clark County, Ohio James RankinBorn 1861 · Clark County, Ohio Warren H. RankinBorn 1861 · Clark County, Ohio

Done-for-you research

Trace your documented Rankin family

Found your Rankin? We trace your family back as far as the records go and write it up as a family history book, every source cited. No DNA test and no sales call: we take a free first look, then email you a plan and a flat price before you spend a dollar.

Common questions

Rankin genealogy: FAQ

Where were Rankin ancestors recorded?

Our database holds 3,271 Rankin records from all 12 Midwestern states. The most are in Ohio (754), then Missouri (551) and Illinois (433).

How far back does the Rankin family tree go?

The earliest Rankin birth in our database is 1854: Angus Rankin, Michigan. The old county histories name Warren H. Rankin, born 1821. We have pieced together 185 Rankin family trees from public birth and death records.

Are living Rankin family members listed here?

Not knowingly. We follow set rules to leave living people out of our public pages. If you find a living relative listed here, email us and we will take the record down.

Is this my Rankin family?

Maybe. Many people share a name, so treat any match as a possible match until the dates and places line up with what you know about your family. Every person here links to their own page with the details, and we can trace your line for you.