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

Hinkel, 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 Hinkel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hinkel in America

Hinkel is the 12637th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hinkel surname appeared 2,449 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Hinkel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hinkel 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 Hinkel

The surname Hinkel has its origins in Germany, with records of the name dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "hinkel," which means "little chicken" or "chick." This nickname was likely given to someone with a chicken-like gait or mannerisms.

In its early days, the name was found predominantly in the southern regions of Germany, particularly in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in medieval tax rolls and municipal records from towns and villages in these areas.

One notable early mention of the name Hinkel appears in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, dated around 1300. This record refers to a certain "Heinricus Hinkel," suggesting the name's existence in that region during that period.

Over the centuries, the name has undergone various spelling variations, including Hinckel, Hinckell, and Hinckel. These variations were likely due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in record-keeping practices of the time.

Among the prominent individuals bearing the Hinkel surname throughout history is Johann Hinkel (1518-1589), a German theologian and Reformist scholar from Augsburg. He played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation and was a close associate of Martin Luther.

Another notable figure is Gottfried Hinkel (1647-1709), a German composer and organist from Nuremberg. He is renowned for his contributions to the development of the Baroque music style and his compositions for the organ.

In the 19th century, Karl Hinkel (1812-1892) was a German architect and urban planner who designed several notable buildings in Berlin, including the Berliner Schloss (Berlin Palace) and the Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery).

Wilhelm Hinkel (1876-1957), a German politician and member of the Nazi Party, served as the Gauleiter (district leader) of Thuringia during the Third Reich era.

Lastly, Hans Hinkel (1901-1960) was a German football player and manager who played for several clubs in the early 20th century, including Bayern Munich and the German national team.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hinkel

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

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

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

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