We can trace our family history with certainty to Jean Ranc, Huguenot pastor, b. 1641 in Paris, d. 1712 in Mannheim. J. Allan Ranck has researched some history of the Ranc (or Duranc) family associated with Chateau de Vibrac in the Montpellier region of southern France together with some hints that the family Ranc or Rance may have come from Spain. While we may find it pleasant to entertain fantasies of "family castle" and "descended from nobility," we have not been able to establish a connection between our ancestor and these noble families.

*  Chateau de Vibrac
*  Du Ranc Coat of Arms

The major documents establishing the early history of our family are:

*  Parish records from the Reformed Church in Neckarau (Mannheim), Germany.
*  The John Michael Ranck Family Bible

The most extensive sketch of our family history is contained in the first six chapters of J. Allan Ranck's "The Ranks of the Rancks."

*  Chapter 1: Chateau de Vibrac
*  Chapter 2: A Huguenot Heritage
*  Chapter 3: Haven in Germany
*  Chapter 4: A New Home in America
*  Chapter 5: A Church Called Rancks
*  Chapter 6: Across a Continent
*  Chapter 7: A Partial Genealogy: Six Generations in America

You may follow this link for brief excerpts of this history or this link to the entire publication. The historical portion of the original book is also available in reprint. Genealogy Supplement I and Supplement II are available on-line as is the entire updated genealogy (in searchable format).