NameCensus.

UK surname

Tink

A Dutch surname derived from the archaic word "tinke," meaning a small crust or slice of bread.

In the 1881 census there were 102 people recorded with the Tink surname, ranking it #19,518 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 150, ranked #23,724, down from #19,518 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Columb Major, Reydon and Lifton, Bratton Clovelly, Broadwood Widger. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waveney, Broadland and South Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tink is 163 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.1%.

1881 census count

102

Ranked #19,518

Modern count

150

2016, ranked #23,724

Peak year

1911

163 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tink had 102 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,518 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 150 in 2016, ranked #23,724.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 163 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Tink surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tink surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tink 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 143 #13,343
1861 historical 141 #16,072
1881 historical 102 #19,518
1891 historical 126 #20,604
1901 historical 152 #17,916
1911 historical 163 #16,939
1997 modern 155 #20,684
1998 modern 146 #22,031
1999 modern 158 #21,102
2000 modern 149 #21,874
2001 modern 150 #21,482
2002 modern 151 #21,809
2003 modern 145 #22,172
2004 modern 135 #23,326
2005 modern 138 #22,999
2006 modern 128 #24,267
2007 modern 127 #24,748
2008 modern 128 #24,901
2009 modern 135 #24,594
2010 modern 137 #24,907
2011 modern 131 #25,430
2012 modern 142 #24,148
2013 modern 140 #24,779
2014 modern 146 #24,274
2015 modern 153 #23,413
2016 modern 150 #23,724

Geography

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Where Tinks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Columb Major, Reydon, Lifton, Bratton Clovelly, Broadwood Widger, Linkinhorne and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waveney, Broadland, South Norfolk and Cornwall. 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 St Columb Major Cornwall
2 Reydon Suffolk
3 Lifton, Bratton Clovelly, Broadwood Widger Devon
4 Linkinhorne Cornwall
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waveney 010 Waveney
2 Waveney 011 Waveney
3 Broadland 015 Broadland
4 South Norfolk 006 South Norfolk
5 Cornwall 010 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tink

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tink

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Tink surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Tink 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Tink is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Tink is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Tink falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tink 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 Tink, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Tink

The surname Tink has its origins in England, tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "tinca," which referred to a small freshwater fish known as the tench. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname, given to someone who caught or traded in these fish.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire from 1273, where it appears as "William le Tink." This entry provides evidence of the name's existence and its potential occupational connection during the medieval period.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various records with slight spelling variations, such as "Tynk" and "Tynke." These variations were common during this time due to inconsistencies in spelling and recordkeeping practices.

The Tink surname is also linked to several place names in England, such as Tinkers Green in Warwickshire and Tinkers Bridge in Gloucestershire. These place names may have contributed to the surname's development or vice versa, as individuals often took on surnames based on their place of origin or residence.

Notable individuals with the surname Tink include:

1. John Tink (c. 1550 - 1619), an English composer and organist who served at the Chapel Royal during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. 2. William Tink (1725 - 1793), a British architect known for his work on various country houses and churches in the Palladian style. 3. Elizabeth Tink (1807 - 1892), a pioneer in the field of nursing and midwifery, who established one of the earliest training schools for midwives in London. 4. Sir Charles Tink (1863 - 1945), a British diplomat and ambassador to several countries, including Turkey and Italy. 5. Geoffrey Tink (1915 - 2001), a renowned English cricketer who played for Middlesex County Cricket Club and represented England in Test matches during the 1930s.

The Tink surname, while not among the most common in England, has a rich history that can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Its origins as an occupational name and its connection to place names provide insights into the lives and occupations of those who bore this surname throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tink families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tink 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. Cornwall leads with 32 Tinks recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.69x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 32 28.69x
Suffolk 30 25.00x
Devon 18 8.78x
Norfolk 9 5.94x
Hampshire 4 1.98x
Northumberland 3 2.05x
Surrey 3 0.63x
Middlesex 2 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Linkinhorne in Cornwall leads with 12 Tinks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1538.46x.

Place Total Index
Linkinhorne 12 1538.46x
Covehithe 8 13333.33x
St Columb Major 6 645.16x
Bury St Edmunds St James 5 156.25x
Metfield 5 2500.00x
Reydon 5 4545.45x
East Stonehouse 4 99.01x
Norwich St Peter Southgate 4 2105.26x
Stoke Climsland 4 563.38x
Werrington 4 1818.18x
Alverstoke 3 41.04x
Lambeth 3 3.49x
Trowse Cum Newton 3 810.81x
Westgate 3 33.04x
Wrentham 3 909.09x
Ashwater 2 689.66x
Lewannick 2 909.09x
Lowestoft 2 35.27x
North Petherwyn 2 689.66x
Plymouth Charles The 2 22.15x
South Petherwin 2 714.29x
Whitchurch 2 555.56x
Beaworthy 1 1000.00x
Bratton Clovelly 1 500.00x
Calstock 1 45.66x
Carlton Colville 1 227.27x
Islington London 1 1.05x
Lakenham 1 46.51x
Laneast 1 1111.11x
Liskeard 1 53.48x
Minster 1 666.67x
North Hill 1 277.78x
Norwich St Michael At 1 113.64x
Poplar London 1 5.38x
Portsmouth 1 21.51x
St Mary Magdalene 1 121.95x
Yoxford 1 277.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Annie 4
Ann 3
Jane 3
Alice 2
Katherine 2
Sarah 2
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Cattern 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Emielia 1
Emma 1
Eva 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Helena 1
Hilda 1
Janetta 1
Jemima 1
Kate 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Marie 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Norah 1
Rachel 1
Rose 1
Sloma 1
Sophia 1
Susannah 1
Wilhelmina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 11
John 9
Charles 3
Albert 2
Edward 2
James 2
Samuel 2
Arthur 1
Earnest 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Gerrance 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Joseph 1
Nehemiah 1
Phillip 1
Reginald 1
Robert 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Tink surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tink surname in 1881?

In 1881, 102 people were recorded with the Tink surname. That placed it at #19,518 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tink surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 150 in 2016. That gives Tink a modern rank of #23,724.

What does the Tink surname mean?

A Dutch surname derived from the archaic word "tinke," meaning a small crust or slice of bread.

What does the Tink map show?

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