Find out how popular the last name Finkey is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Finkey.

Finkey, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Finkey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Finkey in America

Finkey is the 95955th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Finkey surname appeared 190 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Finkey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Finkey to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Finkey

The surname FINKEY is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the early medieval period. It is believed to be a locative surname, derived from a place name that once referred to a settlement or region. The name is thought to have evolved from the Old English words "fyn" meaning "marsh" or "fen," and "ey" or "eeg," signifying an island or piece of dry ground surrounded by wetlands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname FINKEY can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Finechey." This entry suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century and may have originated from a place name referring to a marshy area or island within a fen.

During the Middle Ages, variations in spelling were common, and the name FINKEY was known by several different forms, including Fynkey, Finchey, and Fynchey. These variations likely reflect regional dialects and the evolving nature of the English language over time.

In the 13th century, records show a Robert de Fynkey residing in Lincolnshire, a county known for its vast fenlands. This may indicate that the surname originated from a place name within this region.

One notable bearer of the FINKEY name was Sir John Finkey (1525-1589), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was born in Gloucestershire and served as a Justice of the Peace for the county.

Another historically significant individual with this surname was William Finkey (1640-1712), a successful merchant and shipowner from Bristol, England. He played a crucial role in the city's thriving maritime trade during the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the name FINKEY appeared in various parish records across England, particularly in counties such as Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Gloucestershire. This suggests that the name had spread across different regions by this time.

One individual of note from this period was Thomas Finkey (1732-1802), a renowned clockmaker from London. His exquisitely crafted timepieces were highly sought after by the gentry and aristocracy of the time.

In the 19th century, the FINKEY surname continued to be found across various parts of England. Records show a John Finkey (1818-1892) who was a prominent architect in Liverpool, responsible for designing several notable buildings in the city.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Finkey

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Finkey.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Finkey was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Finkey has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Finkey was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Finkey, please contact us.

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