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

Wink, 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 Wink surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wink in America

Wink is the 11894th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wink surname appeared 2,632 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Wink.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wink 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 Wink

The surname WINK originated in England and has been traced back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "winc," which means a corner or an angle. This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who lived on a plot of land with a distinctive bend or corner.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname WINK can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1195, where a William Winc is mentioned. This indicates that the name was already established in that region by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as Wync, Wynk, and Winke, reflecting the variations in spelling common during that time. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 list a Henry le Wync from Oxfordshire, while the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275 mention a Robert le Wynk.

By the 14th century, the spelling had evolved closer to its modern form. The Poll Tax Returns of 1379 record a John Wink from Yorkshire, and the Court Rolls of Wiltshire from 1392 mention a Thomas Wink.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname WINK was Sir Walter Wink, a knight who fought in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 during the Hundred Years' War. He was born in Wiltshire around 1380 and played a significant role in the English victory over the French forces.

Another prominent figure was John Wink, a merchant and alderman in the city of London during the late 15th century. He was born in 1452 and served as the Sheriff of London in 1491.

In the 16th century, the surname WINK was associated with several notable individuals, including Thomas Wink (1505-1578), a member of the English Parliament and landowner from Berkshire, and Richard Wink (1530-1601), a scholar and theologian who attended Oxford University.

During the 17th century, the name WINK was found in various parts of England, with records showing individuals from counties such as Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Hampshire. One noteworthy person from this period was Edward Wink (1620-1692), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Somerset.

In the 18th century, the surname WINK continued to be present across England, with individuals bearing the name residing in areas like Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Warwickshire. A notable figure from this time was William Wink (1725-1798), a successful banker and philanthropist from London.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wink

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

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

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

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