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

Tinker, 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 Tinker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tinker in America

Tinker is the 5525th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tinker surname appeared 6,291 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 Tinker.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tinker 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 Tinker

The surname Tinker is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is an occupational name derived from the Middle English word "tinkere," which referred to a skilled craftsman who mended pots, pans, and other metal household items. The name is believed to have come from the tinking or tinkling sound made by the mending of these vessels.

Tinkers were considered essential members of medieval society, as they traveled from village to village, repairing household wares and kettles. They were often associated with the Romany Gypsy community, who were known for their metalworking and tinsmithing skills.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Tinker can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which lists a Robert le Tinkere from Oxfordshire. The name also appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, with a mention of a William Tynker.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Tinker became more widespread across England. Notable individuals with this surname include John Tinker (c.1589-1657), a English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, and Mary Tinker (c.1630-1700), who was accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials.

In the 18th century, the name Tinker was associated with the Tinker's Uprising, a rebellion against the English government led by Jemmy Tinker in 1753. Jemmy Tinker was a member of the Travelling community and his uprising highlighted the struggles faced by the Romany people during that time.

Other notable individuals with the surname Tinker include Benjamin Tinker (1770-1835), an American Revolutionary War soldier, and Mary Tinker (1931-2017), an American activist who played a pivotal role in the landmark Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines, which established the right of students to engage in political protest at school.

Throughout history, the surname Tinker has been associated with skilled metalworkers, itinerant traders, and members of the Romany community. While its origins can be traced back to medieval England, the name has since spread to various parts of the world, reflecting the travels and contributions of those who bore this occupational surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tinker

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

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

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

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