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

Spinks, 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 Spinks surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Spinks in America

Spinks is the 5881st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Spinks surname appeared 5,868 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 Spinks.

We can also compare 2010 data for Spinks 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 Spinks

The surname Spinks is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the county of Yorkshire. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "spinc," which means a small bird such as a finch or sparrow. This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname given to someone with a small, bird-like appearance or demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Spinc." This entry likely refers to a place name rather than a personal name, but it provides evidence of the name's existence in England during the Norman era.

As the name evolved over time, various spellings emerged, including Spink, Spinks, and Spynks. These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling that were common before the standardization of English spelling in the 18th century.

Historically, the Spinks surname has been associated with several notable individuals. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was William Spynks, a merchant who lived in London in the 14th century and was mentioned in various trade records of the time.

Another prominent figure was John Spinks, a 16th-century English clergyman who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. He played a significant role in the religious and cultural life of the town during his tenure.

In the 18th century, Samuel Spinks (1720-1793) was a renowned engraver and printmaker based in London. His work included illustrations for books and magazines, as well as portraits and landscapes.

Moving into the 19th century, Sarah Spinks (1833-1907) was a notable English novelist and poet. She wrote several novels that explored themes of love, family, and social issues, and her work was well-received during her lifetime.

Lastly, one of the most famous bearers of the Spinks surname was Michael Spinks (1956-2022), an American professional boxer who won multiple world championships in the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of his era and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994.

While the Spinks surname may have humble beginnings as a nickname related to small birds, it has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields throughout history, from religion and literature to the arts and sports.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Spinks

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

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

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

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