NameCensus.

UK surname

Clink

A surname possibly derived from the Old English word "clinc" meaning ridge or hill.

In the 1881 census there were 94 people recorded with the Clink surname, ranking it #20,467 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 122, ranked #27,255, down from #20,467 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Alloa, Abernethy and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Law, Mendip and Monikie.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Clink is 125 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.8%.

1881 census count

94

Ranked #20,467

Modern count

122

2016, ranked #27,255

Peak year

2014

125 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Clink had 94 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,467 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 122 in 2016, ranked #27,255.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 102 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Mature Families.

Clink surname distribution map

The map shows where the Clink surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Clink surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Clink over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 84 #19,067
1861 historical 92 #22,112
1881 historical 94 #20,467
1891 historical 86 #25,951
1901 historical 102 #22,596
1911 historical 32 #29,838
1997 modern 102 #26,638
1998 modern 113 #25,731
1999 modern 113 #25,913
2000 modern 111 #26,111
2001 modern 102 #27,093
2002 modern 102 #27,596
2003 modern 104 #27,101
2004 modern 110 #26,451
2005 modern 109 #26,583
2006 modern 104 #27,646
2007 modern 103 #28,187
2008 modern 99 #29,181
2009 modern 103 #29,127
2010 modern 112 #28,336
2011 modern 111 #28,294
2012 modern 111 #28,332
2013 modern 119 #27,541
2014 modern 125 #26,896
2015 modern 119 #27,684
2016 modern 122 #27,255

Geography

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Where Clinks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Alloa, Abernethy, London parishes, Crieff and Perth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Law, Mendip, Monikie, Stobswell and Tweeddale East Area. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Alloa Clackmannan
2 Abernethy Perth
3 London parishes London 3
4 Crieff Perth
5 Perth Perth

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Law Dundee City
2 Mendip 001 Mendip
3 Monikie Angus
4 Stobswell Dundee City
5 Tweeddale East Area Scottish Borders

Forenames

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First names often paired with Clink

These lists show first names that appear often with the Clink surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Clink

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Clink, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Retired Professionals

Group

Established Mature Families

Nationally, the Clink surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Mature Families, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Clink household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples predominate, many with older dependent children. Detached housing is common. Homeownership rates are the highest within this Supergroup. The presence of some students suggests that households are towards the end of a child rearing phase. Many residents have degree level qualifications, and the occupational profile is heavily skewed towards managerial and professional occupations. Residential developments commonly occur on the periphery of major urban cities or conurbations.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Clink is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Clink is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Clink falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Clink is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Clink, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Clink

The surname Clink has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English word "clink," which referred to a sharp metallic sound, often associated with the clinking of metal bars or chains.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Clink can be found in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire from 1272, which mentions a person named Robert Clink. This suggests that the name was already in use by that time, potentially indicating its association with a particular trade or occupation related to metalworking.

In the 14th century, the name Clink appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, where a Henry Clink was listed as a taxpayer in 1327. This record provides further evidence of the name's presence in different regions of England during the medieval period.

The Clink, a notorious prison in Southwark, London, is believed to have derived its name from the clanking sound of the prisoners' chains. While the exact connection between the surname and the prison is uncertain, some historians speculate that the name may have been associated with those who worked or lived near the prison.

Notable individuals with the surname Clink throughout history include:

1. Richard Clink (c. 1540 - 1610), an English merchant and explorer who participated in several voyages to the West Indies and North America in the late 16th century.

2. Mary Clink (1670 - 1735), a British writer and poet whose work focused on religious themes and moralistic tales.

3. Jonathan Clink (1720 - 1795), an English clockmaker and inventor, known for his contributions to the development of precision timepieces.

4. William Clink (1805 - 1882), a British architect and civil engineer who designed several notable bridges and public buildings in London during the Victorian era.

5. Elizabeth Clink (1867 - 1945), an American educator and women's rights activist, who played a significant role in advocating for equal educational opportunities for women in the early 20th century.

While the surname Clink has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. The name continues to be a part of various cultural and historical narratives, reflecting its unique and distinctive origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Clink families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Clink surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 22 Clinks recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.40x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 22 2.40x
Perthshire 19 46.17x
Stirlingshire 11 32.53x
Clackmannanshire 8 105.68x
Fife 7 12.90x
Warwickshire 6 2.60x
Devon 5 2.62x
Essex 4 2.21x
Lanarkshire 4 1.35x
Hampshire 2 1.06x
Northamptonshire 2 2.32x
Surrey 2 0.45x
Aberdeenshire 1 1.18x
Yorkshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Ninians in Stirlingshire leads with 8 Clinks recorded in 1881 and an index of 238.81x.

Place Total Index
St Ninians 8 238.81x
Stoke Newington London 8 112.04x
Ballingry 7 2121.21x
Aston 6 9.43x
Crieff 6 392.16x
Alloa 5 136.24x
Errol 4 526.32x
Govan 4 5.45x
Islington London 4 4.50x
Mile End Old Town London 4 20.50x
West Ham 4 10.01x
Dollar 3 384.62x
Ipplepen 3 1153.85x
Perth Middle Church 3 193.55x
Stirling 3 70.42x
Abernethy 2 370.37x
Chelsea London 2 7.24x
Inchture 2 1000.00x
Southampton St Mary 2 16.92x
Barmby On Moor 1 714.29x
Coulsdon 1 123.46x
Devonport 1 45.66x
Hackney London 1 1.95x
Kilspindie 1 454.55x
Lambeth 1 1.25x
Lilford Cum Wigsthorpe 1 2000.00x
Perth East Church 1 25.77x
Plymouth Charles The 1 11.89x
St George In East London 1 11.60x
St Marylebone London 1 2.04x
Strathdon 1 243.90x
Thorpe Achurch 1 2000.00x
Whitechapel London 1 11.06x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Clink surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Clink surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 8
Henry 3
George 2
William 2
Arthur 1
Chs. 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Clink households.

FAQ

Clink surname: questions and answers

How common was the Clink surname in 1881?

In 1881, 94 people were recorded with the Clink surname. That placed it at #20,467 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Clink surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 122 in 2016. That gives Clink a modern rank of #27,255.

What does the Clink surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from the Old English word "clinc" meaning ridge or hill.

What does the Clink map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Clink bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.