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

Sinke, 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 Sinke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sinke in America

Sinke is the 80131st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sinke surname appeared 237 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 Sinke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sinke 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 Sinke

The surname Sinke has its origins in the Low German language, spoken in the northern regions of Germany and the Netherlands. It is believed to have emerged in the 14th century, with the earliest recorded instances found in the regions of Lower Saxony and Westphalia.

The name Sinke is derived from the Old Saxon word "sink," which translates to "marsh" or "swamp." This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived near or in a marshy area. It is possible that the name was originally a descriptive nickname or a topographic surname, reflecting the geographical features of the area where the first bearers of the name resided.

In the 15th century, the name appeared in various records and manuscripts from the region, including the "Bremisches Urkundenbuch" (Bremen Deed Book), which documented legal transactions and property ownership in the city of Bremen and surrounding areas. One notable mention was that of Johann Sinke, a merchant from the town of Stade, recorded in 1487.

The name Sinke also has connections to place names in the region. For instance, the village of Sinke, located in the district of Cloppenburg in Lower Saxony, likely served as the source of the surname for some families. Additionally, variations in spelling, such as Syncke or Sinken, were common in historical documents.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Sinke. One of the earliest was Henning Sinke, a Lutheran theologian and reformer born in the late 15th century in the city of Lübeck. Another was Johann Sinke, a German painter from the 16th century, known for his religious works and portraits.

In the 17th century, Claus Sinke (1592-1666) was a prominent merchant and councilor in the city of Hamburg. His son, Johann Sinke (1628-1701), followed in his footsteps and became a respected merchant and alderman in the same city.

In the 19th century, Carl Sinke (1807-1877) was a German architect and builder, notable for his work on churches and public buildings in the cities of Hanover and Bremen.

The surname Sinke, with its origins in the Low German language and its connections to the marshy landscapes of northern Germany and the Netherlands, has a rich history spanning several centuries. While its prevalence may have been concentrated in these regions, the name has undoubtedly spread further afield through migration and family connections.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sinke

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

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

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

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