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

Zinke, 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 Zinke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zinke in America

Zinke is the 23866th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zinke surname appeared 1,058 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 Zinke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zinke 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 Zinke

The surname Zinke has its origins in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, specifically in Germany. It is believed to have emerged in the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. The name is predominantly found in areas such as Bavaria and Saxony, which were historically significant regions of the Holy Roman Empire.

The surname Zinke is derived from the Middle High German word "zinke," meaning "prong" or "tine." This word was often used metaphorically to refer to someone with a sharp or pointed characteristic, such as a person with distinctive features or perhaps related to an occupation dealing with tools or instruments having prongs. The surname may also have connections to the early German word "Zink," which referred to a spike or a steeple.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in historical manuscripts from the 15th century. Notably, the name appears in church records and local registries in Bavaria where families carrying the surname Zinke were documented. In the year 1487, records list a Heinrich Zinke in the town of Nuremberg, indicating the name's presence in the region during that period.

In the 17th century, the name appears in the register of the University of Leipzig, where a student named Johann Zinke enrolled in 1652. This suggests that individuals bearing the name Zinke were active in academic and intellectual circles in Saxony. Another historical figure, Friedrich Zinke, born in 1730 and died in 1795, was a notable artisan in Munich, contributing to the city's rich cultural heritage during the Baroque period.

Moving into the 19th century, the name continued to be prominent in Germany. Carl Zinke, a notable composer and musician born in 1819, significantly impacted the musical landscape in Leipzig, until his death in 1875. His compositions and performances were well-received, cementing the Zinke name in the realm of art and culture.

Another noteworthy individual is Helmut Zinke, born in 1880 and died in 1940, who was an influential scientist. His research in the field of chemistry earned him recognition and accolades in academic circles, highlighting the diverse contributions of individuals with the surname Zinke.

Throughout history, the surname Zinke has been associated with various regions and professions across Germany. It retains its historical and cultural significance, reflecting a rich heritage that can be traced back to its medieval origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zinke

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

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

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

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