Brinker History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsEtymology of BrinkerWhat does the name Brinker mean? The ancient German region of the Rhineland was the original home of the ancestors of the Brinker surname. Brinker was a local name, a type of hereditary surname that identified people by the places where they lived. Landowners were the first to use local names, and they often attached the prefix "von", meaning "of" or "from," to the surname. Often, the use of "von" was a mark of aristocratic birth. Local names are by far the most common style of German hereditary surname. Brinker was a name for someone who lived beside a meadow or grassy pasture. Brinker is a topographic surname, which was a type of local name given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties. Early Origins of the Brinker familyThe surname Brinker was first found in the Rhineland, where this family name became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. Always prominent in social affairs, the name became an integral part of that turbulent region as it emerged to form alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation. The name Brink derives originally from the German word that describes a grassy meadow or pasture. Early History of the Brinker familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brinker research. Another 110 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1814, 1835 and 1870 are included under the topic Early Brinker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Brinker Spelling VariationsOne can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Brinker include Brink, Brinker, Brinck, Brincke, Brinkmann, Brinkman, Brinckmann, Brinckman, Brinckemann and many more. Early Notables of the Brinker familyMore information is included under the topic Early Brinker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Brinker RankingIn the United States, the name Brinker is the 8,218th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1
Hundreds of thousands of Europeans, including many Rhinelanders, made the voyage to North America between the 17th and 20th centuries. It was an escape from religious persecution and poverty and also an opportunity for people to start over and own their own land. Most landed at Ellis Island, off New York before moving on to the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, and California. Some also landed in Canada and settled in Ontario, while others headed west to the prairie provinces. A study of passenger and immigration lists has shown a number of people bearing the name of Brinker, or one of its variants, reaching North America shores very early: Brinker Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Brinker Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
USS Indianapolis
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