Dinkel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The ancestral home of the Dinkel family is in the German state of Bavaria. The name Dinkel is an occupational hereditary surname, a type of surname that was taken from a word describing or common to the profession of the original bearer. It is a name for a farmer or a dealer in spelt, which is a kind of wheat. Spelt, which is a derivative of the Old Germanic word Dinkel, was a grain like barley and wheat that was grown extensively in the German speaking states during the Middle Ages. Spelt was sold as a cereal and formed a large part of the diet at this time. Nonetheless, Dinkel is also a local name for a person that came from Dinkelsbuhl, a town in Bavaria in the south of Germany. Dinkelsbuhl, which is one of the best preserved medieval towns, dates back to the 14th century. The Dinkel family possessed vast estates and resided in an elegant feudal manor. During the Middle Ages, they became a part of the landed aristocracy and they wielded considerable prestige and influence in the region of Bavaria. Nonetheless, the family expanded into other parts of the German territories after the 16th century.

Early Origins of the Dinkel family

The surname Dinkel was first found in Bavaria, where this family became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. Always prominent in social affairs, the name Dinkle became an integral part of that turbulent region as it emerged to form alliances with other families within the Feudal System. Ancient chronicles first mention one Burkart der Dinkel of the town Villgenau in the year 1370.

Early History of the Dinkel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dinkel research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1802, 1827, 1843, 1846, 1858, 1889, 1892, 1909, 1910, 1912, 1914 and 1935 are included under the topic Early Dinkel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dinkel Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Dinkel include Dinkel, Dinckels, Dinckel, Dinckle, Dinkler, Dinckelmann, Dinkelman, Tinkel, Tinckel and many more.

Early Notables of the Dinkel family

Prominent among members of the name Dinkel in this period include Christian Dingler (1802-1858) German founder of the "Dinglerwerk" manufacturing business at Zweibrücken in 1827. He invented a version of a Toggle press which he called the "Zweibrücker-press," but more popularly was known as the "Dingler Press." The printing press was immensely popular throughout Europe...
Another 55 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dinkel Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dinkel Ranking

In the United States, the name Dinkel is the 13,080^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Dinkel migration to the United States +

The great European flow of migration to North America, which began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century, was particularly attractive to those from Bavaria who wished to escape either poverty or religious persecution. For many Bavarian tenant farmers, the chance to own their own land was a major incentive. So the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlement centered in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were:

Dinkel Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Michael Dinkel, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1752 2
Nicolaus Dinkel, who arrived in America in 1785 2

Dinkel Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Jacob Dinkel, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1836
Jacob Dinkel also arrived in Philadelphia in 1836
John Dinkel, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1860
Andreas Dinkel, who landed in New York, NY in 1876 2
Johannes Dinkel, aged 26, who landed in New York, NY in 1876 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Dinkel (post 1700) +

Jack Dinkel (1923-1951), American First Lieutenant in the United States Army during the Korean War, posthumous recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross
Thomas "Tom" Dinkel (b. 1956), former professional American NFL football linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals (1975-1985)
Nicholas Stephen Dinkel (1874-1919), American college football starting quarterback for the University of Notre Dame

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)