UK surname
A German toponymic surname indicating an origin near a river, stream, or other flowing body of water.
In the 1881 census there were 8 people recorded with the Sinn surname, ranking it #32,581 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 21, ranked #36,596, down from #32,581 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, St Philip and Jacob and Newcastle All Saints. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sinn is 108 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 162.5%.
1881 census count
8
Ranked #32,581
Modern count
21
2016, ranked #36,596
Peak year
1891
108 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Sinn surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Sinn 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 | 45 | #25,168 |
| 1861 | historical | 94 | #21,883 |
| 1881 | historical | 8 | #32,581 |
| 1891 | historical | 108 | #22,828 |
| 1901 | historical | 39 | #29,799 |
| 1911 | historical | 49 | #27,894 |
| 1997 | modern | 15 | #36,409 |
| 1998 | modern | 21 | #35,788 |
| 1999 | modern | 18 | #36,151 |
| 2000 | modern | 25 | #35,382 |
| 2001 | modern | 16 | #36,160 |
| 2002 | modern | 19 | #35,991 |
| 2003 | modern | 22 | #35,740 |
| 2004 | modern | 20 | #36,053 |
| 2005 | modern | 17 | #36,407 |
| 2006 | modern | 18 | #36,412 |
| 2007 | modern | 17 | #36,628 |
| 2008 | modern | 18 | #36,607 |
| 2009 | modern | 16 | #36,850 |
| 2010 | modern | 16 | #36,937 |
| 2011 | modern | 16 | #36,932 |
| 2012 | modern | 19 | #36,641 |
| 2013 | modern | 19 | #36,691 |
| 2014 | modern | 19 | #36,740 |
| 2015 | modern | 19 | #36,736 |
| 2016 | modern | 21 | #36,596 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, St Philip and Jacob, Newcastle All Saints, Edinburgh and Manchester. 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 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | St Philip and Jacob | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | Newcastle All Saints | Northumberland |
| 4 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Sinn 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 Sinn, 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 Sinn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Sinn 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, Sinn 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 Sinn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Sinn, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Sinn has its origins in Germany, dating back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old High German word "sinnen," which means "to go" or "to travel." This suggests that the name may have originally been given to someone who frequently traveled or journeyed.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sinn can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of historical documents from the Rhineland region of Germany, dating back to the year 1195. In this document, a person named Henricus Sinn is mentioned as a witness to a land transaction.
In the 14th century, the name Sinn appeared in various forms, such as Synne, Syne, and Synn, in various records from different parts of Germany. It is believed that the name may have been influenced by the Old German word "sinn," meaning "mind" or "thought," which could suggest that the name was associated with someone who was considered wise or thoughtful.
One notable individual with the surname Sinn was Johann Sinn, a German mathematician and astronomer who lived from 1621 to 1682. He made significant contributions to the field of astronomy and was responsible for calculating the orbit of the comet that bears his name, Sinn's Comet.
Another important figure was Johann Baptist Sinn, a German composer and organist who lived from 1779 to 1833. He was known for his compositions for the organ and was highly regarded in his time.
In the 19th century, the name Sinn appeared in various places across Europe, including the United Kingdom and France. One notable individual was Louis Sinn, a French painter who lived from 1810 to 1866 and was known for his landscapes and portraits.
The name Sinn has also been associated with several notable places throughout history. For example, the town of Sinnsheim in the German state of Baden-Württemberg is believed to have derived its name from the Sinn family, who were prominent landowners in the area during the Middle Ages.
Other notable individuals with the surname Sinn include Karl Sinn, a German politician and trade unionist who lived from 1876 to 1935, and Dieter Sinn, a German economist and author born in 1944, who has written extensively on economic policy and international trade.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sinn 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. Carmarthenshire leads with 4 Sinns recorded in 1881 and an index of 121.58x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Carmarthenshire | 4 | 121.58x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 3.24x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 1.28x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Llanelly in Carmarthenshire leads with 4 Sinns recorded in 1881 and an index of 540.54x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Llanelly | 4 | 540.54x |
| Barton Upon Irwell | 3 | 428.57x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 22.88x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sinn 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 Sinn 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 Sinn households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Hosiers Assistt | 1 |
| Silk Factory Opperative | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Teacher School (School Master) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 8 people were recorded with the Sinn surname. That placed it at #32,581 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 21 in 2016. That gives Sinn a modern rank of #36,596.
A German toponymic surname indicating an origin near a river, stream, or other flowing body of water.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sinn 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.