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

Mink, 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 Mink surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mink in America

Mink is the 5841st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mink surname appeared 5,922 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Mink.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mink 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 Mink

The surname MINK is of English origin, deriving from the Middle English word "mink" or "munk," which referred to a small furry animal similar to a weasel. It is believed that the name was initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone who had some association with this animal, perhaps a fur trader or hunter.

The earliest recorded instances of the MINK surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various parts of England, such as Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. It is likely that the name was initially adopted by individuals living in areas where minks were found in abundance or where there was a thriving fur trade.

One of the earliest known bearers of the MINK surname was John Mink, who was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273. Another early record is that of Robert le Munk, who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327.

The MINK surname has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Minchinhampton in Gloucestershire, which was formerly known as "Munchenhampton" or "Monkenhampton." This suggests that some individuals may have adopted the surname based on their place of origin or residence.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the MINK surname. One such person was Sir Henry Mink (1609-1680), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in the 17th century.

Another prominent figure was Richard Mink (1737-1817), an American soldier who fought in the Revolutionary War and later became a prominent landowner and farmer in Pennsylvania.

In the literary world, Herman Mink (1818-1891) was a Dutch poet and writer known for his contributions to the Dutch language and literature.

The MINK surname has also been associated with notable figures in the field of science. One example is William Mink (1867-1935), an American astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of variable stars and the discovery of new celestial objects.

Lastly, in the realm of sports, Herbert Mink (1901-1973) was a German athlete who competed in the 1928 and 1932 Summer Olympics, winning a silver medal in the long jump event.

The MINK surname continues to be found in various parts of the world, particularly in countries with British ancestry, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. While its origins can be traced back to medieval England, the name has evolved and spread across different regions, reflecting the diverse histories and migrations of its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mink

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

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

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

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