Tank Family History

English (Cornwall): perhaps from a pet form of the Middle English personal name Tancred Tancard which is of French origin (see Tankard). Alternatively perhaps a nickname from the rare Middle English word tank ‘blast on a horn’.

North German North Frisian and East Frisian: from a short form of the personal name Thankmar (see Tamm). This surname is very rare in North and East Frisia. Compare Tanck.

Indian (Gujarat): name based on the name of a Rajput clan of unexplained etymology. It is not clear whether this name is connected with the English word tank which is of Indian origin as in Gujarati tānkh ‘underground reservoir’.