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

Hinkle, 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 Hinkle surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hinkle in America

Hinkle is the 1565th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hinkle surname appeared 22,983 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 8 people would have the surname Hinkle.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hinkle 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 Hinkle

The surname Hinkle originated in Germany, with its earliest recorded roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Germanic word "henker," which translates to "executioner" or "hangman." This suggests that the name's original bearers may have held positions related to law enforcement or the execution of legal punishments.

During the Middle Ages, the Hinkle surname appeared in various medieval records and manuscripts across German-speaking regions. One notable example is its mention in the Würzburg City Archives from the year 1367, where a certain Johannes Hinkele is listed as a resident.

As the name spread across Europe, it underwent several spelling variations, such as Hinckel, Hinkel, and Hinkl. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of record keepers.

One of the earliest known individuals with the Hinkle surname was Hans Hinkle, a German mercenary who fought in the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). Another notable bearer of the name was Johann Hinkle (1630-1701), a respected theologian and author from Saxony.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, many Hinkle families migrated from Germany to various parts of Europe and North America, seeking new opportunities or fleeing religious persecution. Among these migrants was Jacob Hinkle (1685-1768), who settled in Pennsylvania and became a prominent landowner and farmer.

As the Hinkle surname spread across different regions, it sometimes evolved to resemble local place names or geographic features. For instance, the town of Hinkelhausen in Bavaria, Germany, may have contributed to the surname's evolution in that area.

Over the centuries, the Hinkle name has been associated with several accomplished individuals, including:

1. Johann Adam Hinkle (1768-1837), a German-born American composer and music educator.
2. Mary Hinkle (1844-1920), a renowned American educator and advocate for women's rights.
3. Erville Hinkle (1892-1975), an American artist and painter known for his landscapes and portraiture.
4. Vance Hinkle (1901-1986), a distinguished American architect and urban planner.
5. Garrett Hinkle (1917-2005), a highly decorated American soldier who served in World War II and received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions.

While the Hinkle surname has its roots in Germany and evolved through various regional influences, it has since become a part of the cultural fabric of many nations, reflecting the diverse journeys and accomplishments of its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hinkle

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

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

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

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