NameCensus.

UK surname

Fink

A German and Jewish surname derived from the Middle High German word "finke," meaning "finch," likely referring to a lively or cheerful person.

In the 1881 census there were 117 people recorded with the Fink surname, ranking it #18,026 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 363, ranked #12,777, up from #18,026 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Mary Whitechapel and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Reigate and Banstead, Hillingdon and Carmarthenshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fink is 387 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 210.3%.

1881 census count

117

Ranked #18,026

Modern count

363

2016, ranked #12,777

Peak year

2010

387 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fink had 117 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,026 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 363 in 2016, ranked #12,777.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 328 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Fink surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fink surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fink 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 59 #22,756
1861 historical 79 #23,702
1881 historical 117 #18,026
1891 historical 184 #15,869
1901 historical 301 #11,627
1911 historical 328 #10,714
1997 modern 337 #12,522
1998 modern 367 #12,121
1999 modern 351 #12,582
2000 modern 357 #12,380
2001 modern 353 #12,293
2002 modern 362 #12,318
2003 modern 355 #12,285
2004 modern 373 #11,859
2005 modern 362 #12,066
2006 modern 367 #12,016
2007 modern 365 #12,205
2008 modern 384 #11,851
2009 modern 383 #12,125
2010 modern 387 #12,301
2011 modern 386 #12,170
2012 modern 372 #12,374
2013 modern 378 #12,422
2014 modern 380 #12,449
2015 modern 367 #12,696
2016 modern 363 #12,777

Geography

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Where Finks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Mary Whitechapel, London parishes, St Philip and Jacob and St Dunstan Stepney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Reigate and Banstead, Hillingdon, Carmarthenshire, Thurrock and Barking and Dagenham. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
5 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Reigate and Banstead 004 Reigate and Banstead
2 Hillingdon 001 Hillingdon
3 Carmarthenshire 004 Carmarthenshire
4 Thurrock 002 Thurrock
5 Barking and Dagenham 007 Barking and Dagenham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fink

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fink

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fink, 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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Fink surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Fink household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Fink is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fink is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fink 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 Fink 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 Fink, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Fink

The surname Fink has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged in the Middle Ages, around the 12th century. The name is derived from the German word "finke," which means "finch," a type of small songbird. It is believed that the name was originally a nickname given to someone who had a physical resemblance to the bird or perhaps someone who was known for their fondness for finches.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Fink name can be found in the Codex Traditionum Corbeiensium, a medieval cartulary from the Benedictine abbey of Corvey in Germany, dated around 1199. This document mentions a person named "Volcmarus Finc," indicating the presence of the name in that region during the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Finke" and "Fincke," in different parts of Germany, including Saxony, Thuringia, and Silesia. These regional variations in spelling were common during that time period.

Among the notable individuals who bore the surname Fink throughout history are Wilhelm Fink (1571-1638), a German writer and theologian known for his works on Protestant theology; Friedrich Fink (1718-1766), a German composer and organist who served at the court of Frederick the Great in Prussia; and Eugen Fink (1905-1975), a German philosopher who was a student of Edmund Husserl and contributed significantly to the field of phenomenology.

Another prominent figure with the Fink surname was Hans Fink (1910-1992), a German painter and graphic artist who was part of the Expressionist movement. His works are known for their bold colors and abstract forms, reflecting the turbulent times in which he lived.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the Fink name can be traced back to Johann Peter Fink, a German immigrant who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1737. He and his family settled in the area that is now known as Finksburg, Maryland, which was named after them.

Throughout history, the Fink surname has been associated with various professions and disciplines, including art, music, philosophy, and theology. While the name originated as a nickname based on physical characteristics or a fondness for finches, it has evolved to represent a diverse array of individuals and their contributions to society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fink families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fink 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 55 Finks recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.99x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 55 4.99x
Lancashire 16 1.22x
Essex 9 4.14x
Surrey 6 1.12x
Gloucestershire 5 2.31x
Yorkshire 5 0.46x
Durham 4 1.22x
Dorset 3 4.15x
Norfolk 3 1.77x
Derbyshire 2 1.16x
Nottinghamshire 2 1.35x
Cheshire 1 0.41x
Devon 1 0.44x
Suffolk 1 0.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 13 Finks recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.17x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 13 12.17x
Mile End Old Town London 11 46.89x
West Ham 9 18.73x
Cheetham 7 71.72x
Hampstead London 6 34.94x
Mile End New Town London 6 275.23x
St Botolph Aldersgate 6 476.19x
Whitechapel London 6 55.25x
Manchester 5 8.50x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 19.66x
South Shields 4 136.99x
West Derby 4 10.45x
Battersea 3 7.40x
Cranborne 3 344.83x
Nether Hallam 3 20.30x
Wimbledon 3 49.75x
Derby St Werburgh 2 20.08x
Hackney London 2 3.24x
Middlesbrough 2 14.06x
Nottingham St Mary 2 5.20x
Sprowston 2 266.67x
St Marylebone London 2 3.40x
Beccles 1 46.30x
Bristol St Peter 1 129.87x
Clerkenwell London 1 3.84x
Great Yarmouth 1 7.12x
Plymouth Charles The 1 9.89x
Spitalfields London 1 12.06x
St Anne Soho London 1 15.90x
West Kirby 1 238.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 5
Emma 5
Mary 5
Catherine 3
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Anna 2
Caroline 2
Ellen 2
Adelaide 1
Amelia 1
Annie 1
Augusta 1
Bertha 1
C.D.E. 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Dviend 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Helene 1
Isabella 1
Johanna 1
Julia 1
Katherine 1
Leah 1
Margaret 1
Margarethe 1
Matilda 1
Minnie 1
Susan 1
Yetta 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 6
John 4
Charles 3
Frederick 3
Henry 3
James 3
Frank 2
Frederic 2
Joseph 2
William 2
Abraham 1
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Ardolph 1
Arthur 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Geo. 1
Julius 1
Lazarn 1
Leanard 1
Leander 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Moses 1
Peter 1
Pincus 1
Reuben 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Simon 1
Thomas 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Fink surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fink surname in 1881?

In 1881, 117 people were recorded with the Fink surname. That placed it at #18,026 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fink surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 363 in 2016. That gives Fink a modern rank of #12,777.

What does the Fink surname mean?

A German and Jewish surname derived from the Middle High German word "finke," meaning "finch," likely referring to a lively or cheerful person.

What does the Fink map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fink 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.