Banks is an English

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

. Notable people and fictional characters with the surname include:

Sports

Adrian Banks Adrian Gerard Banks (born February 9, 1986) is an American-Israeli professional basketball player for Treviso Basket of the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). He played college basketball for Northwest Mississippi Community College and Arkansas State Uni ...

(born 1986), American basketball player *

Alan Banks (rugby league) Alan Banks (birth registered second 1965) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He played at club level for Featherstone Rovers ( Heritage No. 574), as a , or , i.e. number 2 or 5, or, 6. ...

(born c. 1965), rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 1990s *

Antonio Banks (American football) Antonio Dontral Banks (born March 12, 1973) is an American football coach and former cornerback who is the current secondary coach for the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at Virginia Tec ...

(born 1973), defensive back * Montel Vontavious Porter (born 1973), American wrestler also known as Antonio Banks *

Brad Banks Brad Banks (born April 22, 1980) is a former American football quarterback. He played college football at Iowa where he was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. Early years Banks attended Glades Central High School where he was a First-team ...

(born 1980), American football player * Carl Banks (born 1962), American football player *

Chip Banks William "Chip" Banks (born September 18, 1959) is a former All-Pro professional American football linebacker. High school and college career Banks graduated from Lucy Craft Laney High School in Augusta, Georgia. He played college football at ...

(born 1959), American football player * Denis Banks (born 1959), Australian rules footballer *

Eric Banks (American football) Eric Banks (born January 30, 1998) is an American football defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at UTSA. College career Banks was a member of the UTSA Roadrunners for four seas ...

(born 1998), American football player * Ernie Banks (1931–2015), American baseball player * Gordon Banks (1937–2019), English football goalkeeper * Henry Banks (1914–1994), American racing driver * James Banks III (born 1998), American basketball player *

Johnathon Banks Johnathon Banks is an American former professional boxer who competed from 2004 to 2014. He held the IBO cruiserweight title from 2008 to 2009 and challenged once for the IBF cruiserweight title in 2009. He currently works as a boxing traine ...

(born 1982), American boxer *

Kenny Banks Kenneth Banks (19 October 1923 – 9 August 1994) was an English footballer and coach. He played as a wing half for Southport and Wigan Athletic. Career Banks started his career at Southport, initially signing as an amateur before turning profe ...

(1923–1994), English footballer *

Maud Banks Maud Banks of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was an English-born American tennis champion who played in the latter stages of the 19th century and in the early part of the 20th century. Career She reached the singles final of the all-comers tourname ...

(born 1879 – n.d.), American tennis player * Marcus Banks (born 1981), American basketball player * M. B. Banks (1883–1970), American football and basketball player and football, basketball and baseball coach * Omari Banks (born 1982), West Indian cricketer *

Percy Banks Percy d'Aguilar Banks (9 May 1885 – 26 April 1915) played first-class cricket for Somerset in 1903 and 1908. He was born at Bath, Somerset and died in the First World War fighting at the Ypres salient, Belgium. Banks was educated at Che ...

(1885–1915), English cricketer * Sasha Banks (born 1992), stage/ring name for professional wrestler Mercedes Kaestner-Varnado * Sean Banks (born 1985), American basketball player * Sevyn Banks (born 1999), American football player *

Sonny Banks Lucien "Sonny" Banks (June 29, 1940 – May 13, 1965) was a mid-20th Century American boxer who is primarily remembered for being the first boxer to ever knock down Cassius Clay (later "Muhammad Ali") in a professional match. In the early 1960s B ...

(1940–1965), American boxer * Steve Banks (born 1972), English football goalkeeper *

Tavian Banks Tavian Remond Banks (born February 17, 1974) is a former running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1998 and 1999. College and high school careers Tavian Banks was a high school standout in both ...

(born 1974), American footballer * Tom Banks (born 1948), American footballer * Tommy Banks (born 1929), English footballer (Bolton Wanderers) * Tony Banks (born 1973), American football quarterback *

Vic Banks William Thomas Victor Banks (9 February 1889 – 12 October 1972) was a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s. He played at representative level for New Zealand ( Heritage № 108), and Hawke's Bay, as a forward ...

(1889–1972), rugby league footballer from New Zealander of the 1910s *

Willie Banks William Augustus Banks III (born March 11, 1956) is an American athlete. Born at Travis Air Force Base, California, he grew up in San Diego County and went to Oceanside High School. Banks is an Eagle Scout. Track and Field Banks was a track & ...

(born 1956), American track athlete *

(born 1969), American baseball player *

Zach Banks Zachary Mitchell Banks (born December 15, 1997) is an American racing driver currently in the NASCAR recruitment pipeline for the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, and a college student. Banks has recorded over 90 career race wins. Early life Born to Cu ...

(born 1997), American race car driver

Politics

Dennis Banks Dennis Banks (April 12, 1937, in Ojibwe – October 29, 2017) was a Native American activist, teacher, and author. He was a longtime leader of the American Indian Movement, which he co-founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1968 to represent urb ...

(1932–2017), Native American activist and writer *

Gladys E. Banks Gladys E. Banks (July 2, 1897 – November 5, 1972) was an American politician from New York. Life She was born on July 2, 1897, in the Bronx. She married John W. Banks. She was a member of the New York State Assembly (Bronx Co., 11th D.) from 19 ...

(1897–1972), New York politician * Gordon Banks (born 1955), British politician *

Hal C. Banks Harold Chamberlain "Hal" Banks (February 28, 1909 – September 24, 1985) from Waterloo, Iowa was a controversial labour union leader in Canada. An American with mob connections, he came to Canada in 1949 to help bust purportedly Communist-cont ...

(1909–1985), Canadian labour leader *

Jim Banks James Edward Banks (born July 16, 1979) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 2017. A Republican, he previously served as a member of the Indiana Senate from 2010 to 2016. Early life and career Banks was born ...

(born 1979), American Congressman representing Indiana *

John Banks John Banks or Bankes may refer to: Politics and law *Sir John Banks, 1st Baronet (1627–1699), English merchant and Member of Parliament * John Banks (American politician) (1793–1864), U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania *John Gray Banks (188 ...

(born 1946), Mayor of Auckland, New Zealand * J. B. Banks (1924–2003), American politician * Nathaniel P. Banks (1816–1894), American politician and Union General during the American Civil War *

Rosemary Banks Rosemary Banks (born 1951) is a New Zealand diplomat who served as the Ambassador of New Zealand to the United States between 2018 and 2022. She is the first woman to hold the position. Education Banks graduated with an MA in Russian from ...

(born 1951), New Zealand's ambassador to France * Tommy Banks (1936–2018), Canadian musician and politician *

Tony Banks, Baron Stratford Anthony Louis Banks, Baron Stratford (8 April 1942 – 8 January 2006) was a British politician who served as Minister for Sport from 1997 to 1999. A member of the Labour Party, he was a member of Parliament from 1983 to 2005 and subsequentl ...

(1943–2006), British Labour politician * Victor Banks (born 1947), Anguillan politician

Arts and entertainment

Writing

Carolyn Banks Carolyn Banks (born February 9, 1941) is an American novelist, short-story writer, editor, and screenwriter residing in Bastrop, Texas. Writing career 20th century Her first national publication was her short story "Idyll," which appeared in '' ...

, American novelist *

Catherine Banks Catherine Banks is a Canadian playwright. She is a two-time winner of the Governor General's Award for English-language drama, in 2008 for ''Bone Cage'' and in 2012 for ''It Is Solved By Walking''. She resides in Sambro, Nova Scotia, a rural com ...

, Canadian playwright *

Chris Banks (poet) Chris Banks (born 1970) is a Canadian poet. Life Banks' childhood was spent in the small Ontario towns of Stayner, Sioux Lookout, and Bancroft. He received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Guelph, before moving on to complete a Master ...

, Canadian poet *

Enoch Marvin Banks Enoch Marvin Banks (November 28, 1877 – November 21, 1911) was an American historian and professor at the University of Florida. In 1911, after the publication of an article attributing the cause of the American Civil War to slavery and critic ...

(1877-1911), American historian and educator *

George Linnaeus Banks George Linnaeus Banks (2 March 1821 – 3 May 1881), husband of author Isabella Banks, was a British journalist, editor, poet, playwright, amateur actor, orator, and Methodist. George was born in Birmingham, the son of a seedsman familiar wi ...

, British writer * Iain Banks (1954–2013), Scottish novelist * Isabella Varley Banks, British novelist (married to George Linnaeus Banks) *

Leslie Esdaile Banks Leslie Esdaile Banks ( Peterson; December 11, 1959 – August 2, 2011) was an American writer under the pen names of Leslie Esdaile, Leslie E. Banks, Leslie Banks, Leslie Esdaile Banks and L. A. Banks. She wrote in various genres, including Afri ...

, American novelist *

Mary Ross Banks Mary Ross Banks (, Ross; after first marriage, Bowdre; after second marriage, Banks; March 4, 1846 – September 15, 1910) was an American litterateur and author of the long nineteenth century. Her literary fame came to her suddenly and was the res ...

(1846–1910), American litterateur and author *

Michael A. Banks Michael A. Banks (born 21 March 1951 in Princeton, IndianaISFDB, Michael A. Banks - Summary Biblio ...

, American science fiction writer * Russell Banks, American novelist

Music

* Aidan Banks, bass guitarist * Ant Banks, rapper * Azealia Banks, American singer/rapper *

Bankie Banx Bankie Banx (born Clement Ashley Banks; 1953 in Anguilla) is a reggae singer, known as the "Anguillan Bob Dylan". Career Banks's musical career dates back to 1963, when he built his first guitar. He formed his first band in 1967, taking inspir ...

(b. Clement Ashley Banks), Anguillan musician * Bessie Banks, American soul singer *

Chico Banks Chico Banks (March 7, 1962 – December 3, 2008) was an American Chicago blues guitarist and singer. He released one album, in 1997 on Evidence Music, produced by Larry Hoffman. Banks was both a band leader and sideman, having played with Chic ...

(1962–2008), American Chicago blues guitarist and singer * Durk Banks, American rapper and singer known professionally as Lil Durk * Erica Banks, American rapper *

Jillian Banks Jillian Rose Banks (born June 16, 1988), known mononymously as Banks (often stylized in all caps), is an American singer and songwriter. Following the release of two extended plays, ''Fall Over'' and ''London'', in 2013, Banks released her d ...

, American singer, and songwriter known as Banks *

Larry Banks Lawrence H. Banks (October 3, 1931February 26, 1992) was an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, and record producer. Life and career Banks was born in New York City and grew up in the Flatbush area of Brooklyn. His father, Arthur Ban ...

, American soul singer, songwriter and record producer * Lloyd Banks, American rapper *

L.V. Banks L.V. Banks (October 28, 1932 – May 2, 2011) was an American Chicago blues and soul blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was a respected club performer in Chicago for many years. He recorded two albums for Wolf Records. Life and career ...

(1932–2011), American blues guitarist, singer and songwriter *

Mike Banks (musician) Michael Anthony Banks, better known as "Mad" Mike Banks, is an American record producer. He is the co-founder, along with Jeff Mills, of record label Underground Resistance and was a key player in the "second generation" of Detroit techno. Banks l ...

, techno musician *

Ms Banks Thyra Kigho Deshaun Oji, better known by her stage name Ms Banks, is a British rapper, singer and songwriter from Camberwell, London. Oji has released three mixtapes as Ms Banks. In 2014, she released her first mixtape titled ''Once Upon a Grind ...

, British rapper * Nick Banks, British drummer and businessman *

Paul Banks (American musician) Paul Julian Banks (born 3 May 1978) is an English-American musician, singer, songwriter, and DJ. Noted for his baritone singing voice, he is best known as the lead vocalist, primary songwriter, rhythm guitarist, and bassist of the American roc ...

, English-American singer and guitarist (Interpol) *

Paul Banks (English musician) Paul Adrian Banks (born 6 July 1973 in York, England) is an English musician, songwriter and lead guitarist with the Rock music, rock band, Shed Seven. Career Paul Banks formed his first band with schoolfriend Rick Witter in 1986, while still ...

, British songwriter and guitarist (Shed Seven, The Rising and Albion) * Peter Banks (1947–2013), English guitarist * Tony Banks (musician) (born 1950), British songwriter and keyboardist (Genesis)

Film

* Briana Banks, American pornographic actress * Elizabeth Banks, American actress * Jonathan Banks (born 1947), American actor *

Leslie Banks Leslie James Banks CBE (9 June 1890 – 21 April 1952) was an English stage and screen actor, director and producer, now best remembered for playing gruff, menacing characters in black-and-white films of the 1930s and 1940s, but also the Choru ...

, British actor and director *

Lionel Banks With over 200 films to his credit, Lionel Banks (June 22, 1901 in Salt Lake City, Utah – March 20, 1950 in Los Angeles, California) was a hard-working art director from 1935 to 1949. In that time he worked on such films as Leo McCarey Th ...

, cinematic art director * Monty Banks (1887–1950), comedian and film director *

Morwenna Banks Tamsin Morwenna Banks (born 20 September 1961) is a British comedy actress, writer and producer. She appeared in the Channel 4 comedy sketch show '' Absolutely'', and wrote, produced, and appeared in the British ensemble film ''The Announcemen ...

, British actress and comedian *

Robert Banks (filmmaker) Robert C. Banks, Jr. (born September 7, 1966) is an American experimental filmmaker. Biography Banks attended the Cleveland School of the Arts and has taught film at Cuyahoga Community College, the Cleveland Institute of Art, and Cleveland Stat ...

(Robert C. Banks Jr.) (born 1966), American filmmaker *

Steven Banks Steven Craig Banks (born November 27, 1954) is an American actor, musician, comedian, and writer of television, plays, books and cartoons, including ''CatDog'', ''Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi'', and ''SpongeBob SquarePants''. Performing In 1987, Banks ...

, American comedian, actor and screenwriter

Other

* Darryl Banks, comics artist * Doug Banks, American radio personality * Lesley Banks, British artist * Michele Banks, artist *

Nancy Banks-Smith Nancy Banks-Smith (born 1929) is a British television and radio critic, who spent most of her career writing for ''The Guardian''. Life and career Born in Manchester and raised in a pub, she was educated at Roedean School. Banks-Smith began her ...

, British television critic *

Robin Banks Robin Banks is a TV presenter, narrator and radio DJ originally from Kilkenny, Ireland. Career He was the narrator of the British/European version of the popular Discovery Channel show ''MythBusters'', from season 2 to the present day. He has ...

, radio DJ and TV presenter in the UK * Thomas Banks (1735–1805), English sculptor *

Timothy Banks Timothy Banks is an American illustrator and author recognized by Society of Illustrators Los Angeles, Spectrum3×3 MagazineCreative Quarterl ...

, American illustrator *

Violet Banks Violet Banks (3 March 1896 – 1985) was a Scottish artist who painted in oils and watercolours and also decorated pottery. Biography Banks was born in Kinghorn in Fife and studied at the Edinburgh College of Art. She lived in Kirkcaldy for a t ...

(1896–1985), Scottish artist

Science and technology

* Edgar James Banks (1866–1945), American archeologist *

Edward Banks (naturalist) Edward (Bill) Banks (1903–1988) was a British administrator, amateur naturalist and museum curator. Life Banks was born in Newport, Wales. He was the only son of Reginald Clare Banks, a colliery proprietor, but had three older sisters an ...

(1903–1988), British naturalist and museum curator *

Francis Rodwell Banks Air Commodore Francis Rodwell "Rod" Banks CB, OBE, Hon. CGIA., Hon. FRAeS, Hon. FAIAA., FlMechE., Flnst Pet., FRSA, CEng., MSAE, (22 March 1898 – 12 May 1985) was a British engineer who was involved in the development of the internal combus ...

(1898–1985), British engineer and fuel specialist *

Harlan Parker Banks Harlan Parker Banks (September 1, 1913 - November 22, 1998) was an American paleobotanist and Liberty Hyde Bailey Professor Emeritus in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University, known for his studies of Devonian plants. A ...

(1913–1998), American paleobotanist *

James Arthur Banks James Arthur Banks (1897 – 1 December 1967) was a Scottish civil engineer.Joseph Banks Sir Joseph Banks, 1st Baronet, (19 June 1820) was an English naturalist, botanist, and patron of the natural sciences. Banks made his name on the 1766 natural-history expedition to Newfoundland and Labrador. He took part in Captain James ...

(1743–1820), English naturalist * Karen Banks, computer networking expert * Nathan Banks (1868–1953), American entomologist *

Richard C. Banks Richard Charles Banks (April 19, 1931 – October 24, 2021) was an American author, ornithologist and Emeritus Research Zoologist on staff with the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center run by the U.S. Geological Survey and stationed at the Smithso ...

(born 1931), American ornithologist * Robert Banks (chemist) (1921–1989), American research chemist *

Tom Banks (physicist) Thomas Israel Banks (born April 19, 1949 in New York City) is a theoretical physicist and professor at Rutgers University and University of California, Santa Cruz. Work Banks' work centers around string theory and its applications to high energy ...

(born 1949), American physicist

Other

* Aaron Banks (disambiguation), multiple people * David Banks (disambiguation), multiple people * Edward Banks (disambiguation), multiple people * George Banks, American convicted murderer *

Laurence H. Banks Laurence Harold Banks (October 31, 1897 – June 12, 1972) was an American politician who served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and on the Boston City Council. He was the first African-American elected to the Boston City Council. ...

(1897–1972), American politician *

Mary MacLeod Banks Mary MacLeod Banks (1861 – 22 December 1951) was a folklorist, born Mary MacLeod McConnel in Scotland. She was president of the Folklore Society from 1937 to 1939. Early life Mary MacLeod McConnel was born in Edinburgh, the daughter of Davi ...

(1861–1951), folklorist *Sir

Maurice Banks Sir Maurice Alfred Lister Banks (11 August 1901 – 11 August 1991) was a British businessman. Educated at Westminster School in London, Banks was a Director of Oakbank Oil Co. Ltd during 1962/3–1963, which became BP Exploration (Associated Hol ...

(1901–1991), British businessman * Mike Banks (mountaineer) (1922–2013), British mountain climber * Nathaniel P. Banks, American Civil War Union general *

Ridgway Banks Nickel titanium, also known as Nitinol, is a metal alloy of nickel and titanium, where the two elements are present in roughly equal atomic percentages. Different alloys are named according to the weight percentage of nickel; e.g., Nitinol 55 and ...

, American inventor * Tom Banks (disambiguation) * Tyra Banks (born 1973), American supermodel * William Mitchell Banks (1842–1904), Scottish surgeon

Fictional characters

*Adam Banks, in the film ''

The Mighty Ducks ''The Mighty Ducks'' is an American media franchise. It features a trilogy of live-action films released in the 1990s by Walt Disney Pictures, an animated television series, a live-action sequel television series, and a real-world hockey team ...

'' * Inspector Alan Banks, in the crime novels of Peter Robinson *

Charlie Banks (One Life to Live) Charlie Banks is a fictional character from the ABC soap opera ''One Life to Live''. He was portrayed by Brian Kerwin from October 25, 2007, to May 11, 2011. He re-appeared on December 12 and 13, 2011, when Viki returned to Paris, Texas. Charact ...

, from the American soap opera ''One Life to Live'' * Clifford Banks, in the TV series ''Murder One'' *

Rosie M. Banks Rosie M. Banks is a recurring fictional character in the Jeeves and Drones Club stories of British author P. G. Wodehouse, being a romance novelist and the wife of Bingo Little. Inspiration The character was inspired by the prolific early twe ...

, a recurring character in stories by author P. G. Wodehouse *Alfie Banks, the main protagonist of the graphic adventure game ''

A Golden Wake ''A Golden Wake'' is an adventure game developed by Grundislav Games and published by Wadjet Eye Games. The game was released on 9 October 2014. Production Cubed3 explains: "This is the first full project from the studio Grundislav Games, prev ...

''. *

Tom Banks (EastEnders) Tom Banks is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'', played by Colm Ó Maonlaí from 23 April to 1 November 2002. Introduced in April 2002 as a love interest for Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean), producers made the decision to ...

, from the British soap opera ''EastEnders'' *

Jared Banks Jared Banks is a fictional character on the American daytime drama ''One Life to Live''. Originally slated to debut on August 17, 2007, the character, as portrayed by John Brotherton, first appeared a week earlier on August 10, 2007. Chris Bones p ...

, from ''One Life to Live'' *Joe Banks, title character of the film ''

Joe Versus the Volcano ''Joe Versus the Volcano'' is a 1990 American romantic comedy film written and directed by John Patrick Shanley and starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Hanks plays a man who, after being told he is dying of a rare disease, accepts a financial offer ...

'', played by Tom Hanks * Natalie Banks, from ''One Life to Live'' * Victoria Lord Banks, fictional character form ''One Life to Live'' *Banks, a family on the television series '' The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'' *The Banks family in ''Mary Poppins'' (book series), children's books by P. L. Travers, and the film and musical based upon them

Sports

Politics

Arts and entertainment

Writing

Music

Film

Other

Science and technology

Other

Fictional characters

See also