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

Sink, 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 Sink surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sink in America

Sink is the 6331st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sink surname appeared 5,388 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 Sink.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sink 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 Sink

The surname "SINK" is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "sinken," which means "to sink" or "to descend." This name likely originated as a descriptive surname, given to someone who lived near a sunken or low-lying area, or possibly as an occupational name for someone who worked in a mine or quarry.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname "SINK" can be found in various German regions, including Bavaria and Saxony, dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries. One notable early bearer of this name was Hans Sink, a merchant from Nuremberg who lived in the late 15th century.

In the 17th century, the name "SINK" appeared in various German church records and tax rolls, indicating its spread across various German-speaking regions. Some variations in spelling included "Sinck," "Sinke," and "Sincker."

As German immigrants began to settle in various parts of the world, the surname "SINK" traveled with them. In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of this name was Johann Michael Sink, who was born in 1732 in Württemberg, Germany, and later emigrated to Pennsylvania in the mid-18th century.

Another notable bearer of the "SINK" surname was Johann Adam Sink, a German-American farmer and politician born in 1782 in Pennsylvania. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate and was active in local politics.

In England, the surname "SINK" can be traced back to the 19th century, likely introduced by German immigrants or as a variation of the English surname "Sinker." One prominent figure with this name was Sir Robert Sink, a British businessman and philanthropist born in 1841, who made significant contributions to various charitable causes.

Throughout history, the "SINK" surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, writers, and academics. One such example is William Sink, an American painter and sculptor born in 1887, who was known for his portraiture and landscape paintings.

Overall, the surname "SINK" has a rich history rooted in German origins, with its bearers spreading across various parts of the world and making significant contributions in various fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sink

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

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

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

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