Welcome to my UNTHANK study which is very much in its infancy. This branch of my tree is currently being researched. I have decided to begin with the Queensland, Australia occurrences which are quite small and progress to the rest of Australia before attempting the global space.

My background: I have been researching my family history on and off since 1975; back in the day when you included a stamped, self-addressed envelope (SSAE) with your snail mail and waited with bated breath for weeks for a reply from the UK.

I retired in 2015 and so had much more time to devote to this fascinating hobby. I became very involved with our local family history society. My recent research has been on my paternal side but since my dad died recently, I have decided to concentrate on my maternal side while my mum is still alive.

Recently, in a Family Tree magazine, I read about the GOONS concept. This really appealed to me. I thought I would choose the most unusual name on Mum’s side so that I would have time to make a good start on it! The first occurrence in my family is my x2 great grandmother Ellen UNTHANK 1843-1923, born in Limerick, Ireland and died in Brisbane, Australia.

The collating is a little daunting, but I am sure that with the Guild’s support network and the courses I have done with Pharos, I will be able to manage.

I look forward to hearing from and working with any UNTHANKs out there.

Variants: (not included in this study) ONTHANK, UNTHANKE

English: locative name from one of the places of this name in NR Yorkshire, Durham, Northumberland, Cumbria, or Dumfriesshire, named in Old English with unþances ‘without leave’, denoting the dwelling of a squatter.

Ref: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland – Patrick HANKS, Richard Cates, Peter McClure 2016

John de UNTHANC, 1242 in Book of Fees (Northumb)

Alan de UNTHANKE, 1332 in Subsidy Rolls (Cumb)

Robertus UNTHANK, 1377 in Poll Tax (Holywell, Northumb)

John UNTHANK, spicer, 1408

Richard UNTHANKE, capper, 1479 in York Freemen’s Register

Rowland UNTHANK, 1575 in IGI (Brough, Westm)

William UNTHANKE, 1588 in York Registry Wills (Wilton, NR Yorks)

Mary UNTHANK, 1626 in IGI (Kirkleatham, NR Yorks)

Valda Unthank (1909–1987) was an Australian cyclist with the surname Unthank. Other people with the surname Unthank include: 

• DeNorval Unthank: (1899–1977), Oregon's second African American doctor and civil rights pioneer
• DeNorval Unthank Jr. (1929–2000), architect and son of DeNorval Unthank
• Nellie Unthank: (1846–1915), Mormon pioneer
• Rachel and Becky Unthank: Singers in the group The Unthanks

Current frequencies (2016): GB 254, Ireland 0

GB frequency 1881: 248

Main GB location 1881: NR Yorks

DNA: There are no current Y project groups on FTDNA. I have done my autosomal DNA, my mother has done her autosomal and MtDNA.

My Guild website is at: https://unthank.one-name.net/