Hinch last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Hinch

An English surname derived from the Old English "hinc" meaning hinge, likely referring to a maker of hinges.

Hinch, 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 Hinch surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hinch in America

Hinch is the 19551st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hinch surname appeared 1,381 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 Hinch.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hinch 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 19551 19554 -0.02%
Count 1,381 1,277 7.83%
Proportion per 100k 0.47 0.47 0.00%

The history of the last name Hinch

The surname HINCH has its origins in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "henc," meaning "hinge" or "haunch," suggesting a connection to an occupation or physical characteristic.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Robert de Hynch, who is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1273. This document provides valuable insight into the taxation and financial records of the time, indicating the presence of the HINCH surname in northern England during the medieval period.

In the 14th century, the surname appears to have spread across England, with records showing variations such as Hench, Hynch, and Hynche. The Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1279 list a William Hench, while the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1301 mention a John Hynch.

The HINCH surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. In the 16th century, John Hinch (c. 1515-1583) was an English Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake during the Marian Persecutions for his religious beliefs. His story has been documented in various historical accounts, including John Foxe's "Book of Martyrs."

Another prominent figure bearing the HINCH surname was Sir Edward Hinch (1590-1658), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire during the English Civil War. He was a staunch Royalist and supported King Charles I during the conflict.

In the 18th century, Richard Hinch (1720-1795) was an Irish-born soldier who served in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War. He played a significant role in several battles, including the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Siege of Boston.

The HINCH surname has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Hinch in Suffolk and Hinchley in Surrey. These locations may have influenced the development and spread of the surname, as people often adopted surnames derived from the places they lived or originated from.

Throughout its history, the HINCH surname has been associated with various occupations, including farming, carpentry, and metalworking, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and trades of its bearers. While the name has undergone some spelling variations over the centuries, it has maintained its distinctive roots and continues to be a part of the rich tapestry of English surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hinch

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

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 Hinch was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 89.57% 1,237
Non-Hispanic Black Only 4.49% 62
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 1.16% 16
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.36% 5
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 2.03% 28
Hispanic Origin 2.39% 33

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 Hinch has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 89.57% 91.46% -2.09%
Black 4.49% 5.09% -12.53%
Asian and Pacific Islander 1.16% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.36% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 2.03% 1.41% 36.05%
Hispanic 2.39% 1.10% 73.93%

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 Hinch was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Hinch last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 3, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/hinch-surname-popularity/.

"Hinch last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/hinch-surname-popularity/. Accessed 3 May, 2025

Hinch last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/hinch-surname-popularity/.

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