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

Tinkler, 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 Tinkler surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tinkler in America

Tinkler is the 26126th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tinkler surname appeared 937 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 Tinkler.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tinkler 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 Tinkler

The surname Tinkler is of English origin, derived from the occupational surname for a tinker or someone who mended and repaired pots, pans, and other metal objects. It likely emerged in the 13th or 14th century from the Old English word "tincan," meaning to make a tinkling or clattering sound.

The earliest known record of the name dates back to 1379 in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns, which lists a John Tynkere. Another early reference can be found in the Essex Feet of Fines from 1412, which mentions a William Tynkere. These early spellings highlight the evolution of the name from its occupational roots.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various records, including the 1524 Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk, which lists a Richard Tynker. The Tinklers were particularly prevalent in northern England, with records showing families in Northumberland, Durham, and Yorkshire during this period.

One notable bearer of the name was Robert Tinkler (1770-1835), an English Methodist minister and author. He published several works, including "The Wanderer Reclaimed" and "The Christian's Last Step" during his lifetime.

Another prominent figure was John Tinkler (1804-1885), an English industrialist and coal mine owner from Durham. He founded the Tinkler's Hetton Coal Company and played a significant role in the development of the coal mining industry in the region.

In Scotland, the name Tinkler was associated with the travelling community of Tinkers or Travellers, who were known for their metalworking and repair skills. The term "Tinkler" was sometimes used as a derogatory term for these groups, but it also reflected their traditional occupation.

One famous Scottish bearer of the name was James Tinkler (1846-1920), a renowned fiddle player and composer from Ayrshire. He was known for his skillful playing of traditional Scottish tunes and contributed to the preservation of Scottish folk music.

The Tinkler surname also spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, as a result of migration and immigration. For example, William Tinkler (1799-1876) was an English-born settler in Australia who became a prominent landowner and pastoralist in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales.

Throughout history, the surname Tinkler has been associated with the skilled trade of metalworking and repair, with its roots firmly grounded in the occupational surnames of medieval England. Despite variations in spelling and regional variations, the name has maintained its connection to this traditional craft.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tinkler

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!