UK surname
Derived from the Dutch word "mink," referring to the small weasel-like animal.
In the 1881 census there were 98 people recorded with the Minks surname, ranking it #19,999 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 80, ranked #33,030, down from #19,999 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Bebbington and Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Minks is 101 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 18.4%.
1881 census count
98
Ranked #19,999
Modern count
80
2016, ranked #33,030
Peak year
1891
101 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Minks surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Minks surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 66 | #21,617 |
| 1861 | historical | 90 | #22,312 |
| 1881 | historical | 98 | #19,999 |
| 1891 | historical | 101 | #23,870 |
| 1901 | historical | 99 | #22,999 |
| 1911 | historical | 87 | #24,147 |
| 1997 | modern | 65 | #31,141 |
| 1998 | modern | 57 | #32,226 |
| 1999 | modern | 62 | #31,893 |
| 2000 | modern | 72 | #30,977 |
| 2001 | modern | 64 | #31,602 |
| 2002 | modern | 73 | #31,159 |
| 2003 | modern | 71 | #31,393 |
| 2004 | modern | 69 | #31,784 |
| 2005 | modern | 61 | #32,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 62 | #33,043 |
| 2007 | modern | 63 | #33,243 |
| 2008 | modern | 65 | #33,303 |
| 2009 | modern | 71 | #33,102 |
| 2010 | modern | 77 | #32,927 |
| 2011 | modern | 77 | #32,909 |
| 2012 | modern | 81 | #32,796 |
| 2013 | modern | 79 | #33,142 |
| 2014 | modern | 80 | #33,133 |
| 2015 | modern | 80 | #33,052 |
| 2016 | modern | 80 | #33,030 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Bebbington, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a, Ryton and Bolton-le-Moors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 2 | Bebbington | Cheshire |
| 3 | Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a | Essex |
| 4 | Ryton | Durham |
| 5 | Bolton-le-Moors | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Minks surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Minks, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Minks surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Minks household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Minks is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Minks is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Minks, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Minks has its origins in England, tracing back to the 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "munc," which referred to a monk or a member of a religious order. This suggests that the name may have originally been associated with individuals who had some connection to monasteries or the clergy.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Minks can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from the year 1332, where a person named Willelmus Munke is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time, eventually leading to the modern form, Minks.
During the Middle Ages, the surname Minks appeared in various historical records, such as tax rolls and parish registers. For example, in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379, a certain John Munke is listed as a resident of the village of Cottingham.
Notably, in the 16th century, the surname Minks gained prominence with the birth of Sir Thomas Minks (1515-1587), a renowned English lawyer and judge. He served as a Member of Parliament and was later appointed as a Justice of the King's Bench.
Another individual of note bearing the Minks surname was Robert Minks (1642-1718), a prominent English architect and surveyor. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Guildhall Library.
In the 18th century, Joseph Minks (1732-1799) made a significant contribution to the field of horticulture. He was a renowned English botanist and horticulturist who introduced several new plant species to Britain from his travels abroad.
The Minks surname has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout England. For instance, the village of Minks Green in Buckinghamshire is believed to have derived its name from the Minks family who were once influential landowners in the area.
Throughout history, the Minks surname has undergone various spelling variations, such as Munke, Monke, and Moncke, reflecting the fluidity of name spellings in earlier times. Despite these variations, the core meaning and origin of the name remain rooted in its connection to the monastic or religious life of its earliest bearers.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Minks surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 26 Minks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.72x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 26 | 2.72x |
| Yorkshire | 19 | 2.01x |
| Essex | 18 | 9.54x |
| Cheshire | 8 | 3.79x |
| Durham | 6 | 2.11x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 0.53x |
| Suffolk | 5 | 4.29x |
| Staffordshire | 4 | 1.24x |
| Northamptonshire | 2 | 2.22x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 2.02x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.51x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 1.45x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 1.69x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Middlesbrough in Yorkshire leads with 11 Minks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 89.21x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesbrough | 11 | 89.21x |
| Colchester St Giles | 9 | 483.87x |
| Hackney London | 9 | 16.79x |
| Tranmere | 8 | 103.23x |
| Colchester St Botolph | 7 | 437.50x |
| Shoreditch London | 7 | 16.89x |
| Ince In Makerfield | 5 | 94.70x |
| Ipswich St Peter | 4 | 254.78x |
| St Pancras London | 4 | 5.20x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 4 | 11.69x |
| Winlaton | 4 | 146.52x |
| Cawood | 3 | 833.33x |
| York St Mary | 3 | 76.53x |
| Kings Sutton | 2 | 500.00x |
| Medomsley | 2 | 150.38x |
| Mile End Old Town | 2 | 13.25x |
| Bethnal Green London | 1 | 2.41x |
| Biggleswade | 1 | 61.73x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 3.47x |
| Christchurch | 1 | 46.73x |
| Colchester St Mary At | 1 | 149.25x |
| East Ham | 1 | 28.57x |
| Hindley | 1 | 20.66x |
| Ipswich St Nicholas | 1 | 156.25x |
| Oxford St Giles | 1 | 35.46x |
| Portsmouth | 1 | 22.17x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 8.01x |
| Templenewsam | 1 | 144.93x |
| Tottenham | 1 | 6.57x |
| York Marygate St Olave | 1 | 277.78x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Minks surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Minks surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Minks households.
FAQ
In 1881, 98 people were recorded with the Minks surname. That placed it at #19,999 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 80 in 2016. That gives Minks a modern rank of #33,030.
Derived from the Dutch word "mink," referring to the small weasel-like animal.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Minks bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.