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Zink Family History

Zink Surname Meaning

German: from Middle High German zinke ‘peak’ acquired either as a topographic name by someone who lived on or near a crag or on a pointed piece of land or as a nickname for a man with a singularly pointed nose. Compare modern German slang Zinken ‘hooter nose’. The same word was used to denote the cornet although the semantic development is not clear and the surname may sometimes have been metonymic for a player of this instrument. It was not until the 16th century that the metal zinc was discovered and named (apparently from its jagged appearance in the furnace) so this is unlikely to be the origin of the surname. German: from the old personal name Jacinctus which derives from Hyacinthus a Christian saint's name (see Jacinto ). Compare Sink . In some cases also a Germanized or Americanized form of Czech and Slovenian Cink .

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Fink, Pink, Zinn, Sink, Zins, Rink, Mink, Link, Zenk, Bink

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Zink family from?

You can see how Zink families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Zink family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Zink families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 16 Zink families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 43% of all the recorded Zink's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Zink families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Zink surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Zink ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Zink. 15% of Zink men worked as a Farmer and 14% of Zink women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Zink were Carpenter and Waitress. .

View Census Data for Zink | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    15%
  • Laborer
    13%
  • Salesman
    5%
  • Carpenter
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    14%
  • Stenographer
    8%
  • Housekeeper
    7%
  • Waitress
    7%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Zink family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 38,000 census records available for the last name Zink. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Zink census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Zink

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Zink. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 12,000 military records available for the last name Zink. For the veterans among your Zink ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Zink lifespan?

Between 1948 and 2004, in the United States, Zink life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1948, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Zink in 1948 was 28, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Zink

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