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Fink History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Fink History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Israel

From the historical and enchanting region of Austria emerged a multitude of noble families, including the distinguished Fink family. Originally, the Austrian people were known only by a single name. The process by which hereditary surnames were adopted in Austria is extremely interesting. Surnames evolved during the Middle Ages when people began to assume an extra name to avoid confusion and to further identify themselves. Often they adopted names that were derived from nicknames. Nickname surnames were derived from an "eke-name," or added name. They usually reflected the physical characteristics or attributes of the first person that used the name. The name Fink is a nickname type of surname for a cheerful person who sings songs. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the German word fink, which means finch, which is a type of small bird.

Early Origins of the Fink family

The surname Fink was first found in Austria, where the name was closely identified in early mediaeval times with the feudal society which would become prominent throughout European history. The name would later emerge as a noble family with great influence, having many distinguished branches, and become noted for its involvement in social, economic and political affairs.

Early History of the Fink family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fink research. Another 115 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1445, 1527, 1718, 1766, 1783, 1792, 1804, 1808, 1809, 1820, 1827, 1841, 1842 and 1846 are included under the topic Early Fink History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fink Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Fink include Finck, Fincke, Finckl (Bavaria), Finncke, Fink, Finke, Finkl, Finke and many more.

Early Notables of the Fink family

During this period prominent bearers of the name Fink were

Gottfried Wilhelm Fink (1783-1846), theologian and musical critic was born March 7, 1783, at Sulz in Thuringia and was educated at Naumburg, where he was chorister, and Leipzig (1804-1809). He began w...

Fink Ranking

In the United States, the name Fink is the 1,311^st most popular surname with an estimated 22,383 people with that name. 1

Fink migration to the United States +

After the First World War, Austria became a republic. The Treaty of Versailles broke up the empire in 1919 and many of the Sudeten Germans were incorporated into the new nation of Czechoslovakia. In the 20th century, many Austrians migrated to other parts of Germany or Europe, as well as to North America. In the United States, the majority of settlers landed in Philadelphia, and moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Many German settlers also migrated to Canada, particularly Ontario and the Prairies. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Fink were

Fink Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johan Willem Fink, who landed in New York in 1709 2
Kasper Fink, who arrived in New York in 1709 2
Maria Fink, who arrived in New York, NY in 1709 2
Elisabetha Fink, who arrived in America in 1733 2
Johan Nickell Fink, aged 29, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Fink Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Gottfried Fink, aged 23, who landed in America in 1803 2
Joh Fink, who arrived in North America in 1832 2
Martin Fink, who landed in North America in 1832 2
John P Fink, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1834 2
John Fink, who landed in Maryland in 1836 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Fink migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Fink Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Anna Fink, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757
Catherina Fink, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757
Christian Fink, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757
Friederick Fink, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757
Margereta Fink, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Fink migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Fink Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mrs. Fink, British settler travelling from London via Cape ports with 3 children aboard the ship "Pembroke Castle" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 5th November 1889 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Fink (post 1700) +

Thomas A. Fink (1928-2021), American Republican politician, Mayor of Anchorage (1987-1994), 7th Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives (1973-1975)
Elizabeth Fink (1945-2015), American civil rights and criminal defense attorney, known for her lawsuits concerning the Attica Prison riots
Stanley Fink (1936-1997), American lawyer and politician
Orenda Fink (b. 1975), American musician
John Fink (b. 1940), American actor
Aaron J. Fink (d. 1990), American urologist
David Fink, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Michigan 9th District, 2002 4
Charlotte Fink, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Missouri, 2008 4
Charles A. Fink, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Michigan State Senate 20th District, 1932 4
Charles Fink, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey, 1853 4
... (Another 28 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Fink family +

Arrow Air Flight 1285

Mr. Kevin Foster Fink (1962-1985), American Private from Dayton, Pennsylvania, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 5

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)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550