Shink last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Shink

Term derived from German meaning "leg" or "shin", often signifying someone with a physical trait.

Shink, 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 Shink surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shink in America

Shink is the 108734th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shink surname appeared 163 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 Shink.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shink 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 108734 102691 5.72%
Count 163 162 0.62%
Proportion per 100k 0.06 0.06 0.00%

The history of the last name Shink

The surname SHINK has its origins in the German language, with roots tracing back to the 13th century. The name is believed to have derived from the Old German word "schinke," which referred to a type of smoked ham or cured meat. Historically, surnames often originated from occupations, and it's possible that SHINK was initially associated with those who worked as butchers, pork sellers, or in the meat trade.

In the early records, variations of the spelling can be found, such as "Schink," "Schinck," and "Schincke." The name appears in several medieval documents from regions like Bavaria and Saxony, indicating its widespread use across different parts of Germany during that era.

One of the earliest documented instances of the SHINK surname can be found in the Heidelberg manuscript from the year 1289, which mentions a "Heinrich Schink" as a resident of the town of Heidelberg. This provides evidence of the name's existence in the late 13th century.

Another notable historical reference is the mention of a "Johann Schincke" in the records of the city of Lübeck, dated 1421. Lübeck, being a prominent Hanseatic city, suggests that the name may have been associated with trade and commerce during that period.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure bearing the SHINK surname was Hans Schink, a German painter and woodcarver born in 1551 in Nuremberg. His works can be found in various churches and museums across Germany, showcasing the artistic talents of individuals with this surname.

Moving forward to the 17th century, the name appears in the records of the University of Leipzig, with a student named "Georg Schink" enrolled in 1638. This highlights the educational achievements of those carrying the SHINK surname during that era.

Another notable individual was Johann Schink, a German theologian and philosopher born in 1677 in Saxony. He authored several influential works on religion and ethics, further contributing to the intellectual legacy associated with this surname.

Throughout history, the SHINK surname has maintained a presence across various regions of Germany, with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions bearing this name. While its origins may have stemmed from occupational associations, the name has evolved to represent a rich heritage and cultural identity within the German-speaking world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shink

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

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 Shink was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 93.25% 152
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 6.13% 10
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 93.25% 94.44% -1.27%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 6.13% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic (S)% (S)% (S)%

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

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

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"Shink last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 20, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/shink-surname-popularity/.

"Shink last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/shink-surname-popularity/. Accessed 20 June, 2025

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

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