Conversation so far:
where does the last name rankin come from
Rankin is a last name of Scottish and Irish origin.
Is the name, Rankin, a diminutive?
Rankin is derived from the medieval personal name Rankin, which is a diminutive of Ronald or Rand, combined with the diminutive suffix kin.
What are the origins of the name Ronald?
Ronald is a masculine given name derived from the Old Norse Rögnvaldr.
are there other origins of the name ronald
In some cases Ronald is an Anglicised form of the Gaelic Raghnall, a name likewise derived from Rögnvaldr.

Question: how common is the name as a last name in the us
Self-contained rewrite: how common is rankin as a last name in the us