Surname Hink - Meaning and Origin
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Hink: What does the surname Hink mean?
The last name Hink is of German and Dutch origin. It is derived from the Middle German term "hinke" meaning "to limp" and was likely used as an occupational surname for someone who was engaged in the craft of limping which was used to repair shoes. The word is derived from the Old High German "hinchan" meaning "to fill in" and refers to the mending of footwear with either a splint, patch, or piece of leather.
In some instances, the surname may have been adopted by a family living near a steep incline or the site of an accident involving a person causing an injury, both of which could be referred to as a "hink". The term is found mainly in Northern Germany, the Low Countries, (known today as the Netherlands and Belgium), and certain areas of Switzerland.
Hink as a surname may also have originated from the West Frisian island of Terschelling, in the Netherlands, where the name is believed to be derived from a particular type of dune found there.
Hink is a rare surname, found only in very small numbers throughout the United States and other parts of the world. In the United States, it is most commonly found in a family with Dutch American heritage and is also prevalent in the Midwest.
Order DNA origin analysisHink: Where does the name Hink come from?
The last name Hink is most commonly found in the United States. It is believed to have originated in Germany, and the recorded derivation of Hink is from the Middle High German word ‘hinc’ which means ‘from here’.
However, the name is especially prevalent in Wisconsin. According to the US Census Bureau, as of 2019 it was the 940th most common surname in the United States. In Wisconsin alone, it is the 156th most common last name.
The highest concentration of people with the surname Hink is in Wisconsin’s Ozaukee County. The county is located along Lake Michigan, north-west of Milwaukee and is home to 33 people with the last name Hink, and accounts for almost 4% of the state’s total population of 171 people with this surname.
In addition to Wisconsin, the last name is also common in neighboring states such as Minnesota and Iowa. The last name can also be found in the United Kingdom, particularly in and around London.
Overall, the last name Hink is quite rare and is particularly concentrated in the United States. The highest concentration is in Wisconsin, although it is also found in states such as Minnesota and Iowa, as well as internationally in the United Kingdom.
Variations of the surname Hink
The surname Hink is a variation of the German surname Hinck, a derivation of the word hincke, which means "like a Heincke" or a kind of "dance-like movement." This surname is found mainly in the Netherlands, Germany, and Austria.
Alternate spelling variants of the name Hink include Hincke, Hinck, Heinck, Hinke, and Heinke. Some variants of the surname Hink may have a slight alteration in spelling, such as Hindk, Hinik, Heink or Hank, however all of these variations stem from the initial surname of Hink.
Other surnames with similar origins to Hink include Hinger, Hinkler, and Hinker. Hinger is derived from the Middle High German word 'hingen' which means to hang or hinge. This surname could have originated with a locksmith or blacksmith who worked with metals or with someone that worked with door hinges. Hinkler is also the German variant of Hink, and appears to be similar to a nickname for Hinker, which could have come from the medieval word for a traveling tinkers peddler.
Like many surnames, Hink has a variety of spellings and related surnames. Each variation is likely to have a unique story and origin, which could be traced back to its original spelling of Hink.
Famous people with the name Hink
- Zabdiel Hink: American Revolutionary War colonel, lawyer, and politician
- Willie Hink: former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Anna Maria Hink: Swiss botanist
- Harlan Hink: American football and baseball player
- F.J.C. Hink: German industrialist
- Edward Hink: South African scientist and professor from Stellenbosch University
- Ledo Hink: Portuguese composer, choral director, and musicologist
- Carl Hink: American football executive for the National Football League
- Sarah Hink: Canadian actress
- Jacob Hink: German inventor and corset manufacturer