NameCensus.

UK surname

Sinkler

Origin refers to those involved in the construction or maintenance of drains or sinks.

In the 1881 census there were 15 people recorded with the Sinkler surname, ranking it #31,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 18, ranked #36,832, down from #31,451 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Darlington and Muston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sinkler is 104 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.0%.

1881 census count

15

Ranked #31,451

Modern count

18

2016, ranked #36,832

Peak year

1861

104 bearers

Map years

1

1861 to 1861

Key insights

  • Sinkler had 15 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,451 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 18 in 2016, ranked #36,832.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 104 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is No data.

Sinkler surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sinkler surname density by area, 1861 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sinkler 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 83 #19,181
1861 historical 104 #20,477
1881 historical 15 #31,451
1891 historical 98 #24,313
1901 historical 34 #30,281
1911 historical 33 #29,703
1997 modern 7 #37,533
1998 modern 12 #36,790
1999 modern 10 #37,072
2000 modern 17 #36,207
2001 modern 17 #36,053
2002 modern 18 #36,067
2003 modern 18 #36,115
2004 modern 18 #36,245
2005 modern 19 #36,247
2006 modern 22 #36,105
2007 modern 19 #36,450
2008 modern 18 #36,607
2009 modern 18 #36,682
2010 modern 17 #36,862
2011 modern 18 #36,739
2012 modern 18 #36,723
2013 modern 19 #36,691
2014 modern 19 #36,740
2015 modern 18 #36,809
2016 modern 18 #36,832

Geography

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Where Sinklers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Darlington, Muston, Rawmarsh, Wath-on-Dearn (Swinton) and Whittlesey St Mary and St Andrew, Standground (Stilton & Peterborough, Northamptonshire). 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.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Darlington Durham
3 Muston Lincolnshire
4 Rawmarsh, Wath-on-Dearn (Swinton) Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Whittlesey St Mary and St Andrew, Standground (Stilton & Peterborough, Northamptonshire) Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 No data No data

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sinkler

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

Recent female names

No Forenames Found

Recent male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sinkler

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

No data

Group

No data

Nationally, the Sinkler surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Sinkler household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

No data

Group

No data

Within London, Sinkler 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

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sinkler is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Sinkler

The surname Sinkler has its origins in Germany, dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the German word "senken," which means "to lower" or "to sink." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived in a low-lying or sunken area, or perhaps someone who worked in a profession related to lowering or sinking objects.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sinkler can be found in the town records of Augsburg, Germany, from the year 1564. Here, a certain Johann Sinkler is mentioned as a resident of the town. This provides evidence that the name was already well-established in the region by that time.

In the 17th century, the Sinkler name appears to have spread to other parts of Europe, including the Netherlands and England. In 1683, a Dutch merchant named Pieter Sinkler is recorded as having conducted business in Amsterdam. Around the same time, an English family bearing the name Sinkler settled in the county of Yorkshire, where they established themselves as landowners and farmers.

Notable individuals with the surname Sinkler include Johann Sinkler (1732-1811), a German composer and organist who was renowned for his church music compositions. Another notable figure is Sir William Sinkler (1798-1872), a British politician and Member of Parliament who played a role in the reform of the country's electoral system.

In the 19th century, the Sinkler name gained a foothold in the United States, with many German and British immigrants bearing the surname arriving in the country. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of Jacob Sinkler (1812-1888), a German immigrant who settled in Pennsylvania and became a successful businessman.

Other notable Sinklers throughout history include Mary Sinkler (1844-1922), an American philanthropist and women's rights activist who worked to improve educational opportunities for women in the South. Robert Sinkler (1879-1945) was a British explorer and writer who documented his travels in Africa and Asia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sinkler families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sinkler 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. Yorkshire leads with 10 Sinklers recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.91x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 10 6.91x
Middlesex 2 1.37x
Durham 1 2.30x
Hampshire 1 3.34x
Lancashire 1 0.58x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Willerby In Sculcoates in Yorkshire leads with 4 Sinklers recorded in 1881 and an index of 20000.00x.

Place Total Index
Willerby In Sculcoates 4 20000.00x
Hilderthorpe 3 4285.71x
Hampstead London 2 88.11x
Wawne 2 10000.00x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 53.19x
Newton In Makerfield 1 188.68x
Sandal Magna 1 476.19x
Southampton All Sts 1 196.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ada 1
Alice 1
Bertha 1
Dinah 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2
William 2
Geo. 1
George 1
Isaac 1
Matthew 1
Walter 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 Sinkler households.

FAQ

Sinkler surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sinkler surname in 1881?

In 1881, 15 people were recorded with the Sinkler surname. That placed it at #31,451 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sinkler surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 18 in 2016. That gives Sinkler a modern rank of #36,832.

What does the Sinkler surname mean?

Origin refers to those involved in the construction or maintenance of drains or sinks.

What does the Sinkler map show?

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