Show ContentsTinky History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Tinky

What does the name Tinky mean?

This Tinky surname derives from the Old English word tinklere, of uncertain origin. The name is generally thought to be of occupational origin for someone who mended of pots and pans. 1

Early Origins of the Tinky family

The surname Tinky was first found in London, where a Laurence Tinekere is in a listing from 1244-1246 in "The History of St. Bartholomew's Hospital." Roger le Tinkelere was listed in Yorkshire in 1268 and later, Thomas le Tindere was found in the Assize Rolls for Northumberland in 1279. The name is "characteristically northern, noted only in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cumberland and Northumberland." 2

And further north again, we found in Scotland, "Jacobus Tinckler held land in the reign of William the Lion. James Tynkler and others were charged with deforcing a messenger in Ednem, 1510. Robert Tinkler was tenant on the Abbey lands of Kelso, 1567, John Tinklar and John Tynklar, Jr., appear in Nether Mains, Renfrew, 1575, John Tinkler was admitted burgess of Glasgow, 1617 and Allan Tinckler in Stitchill made a claim in 1665." 3

Early History of the Tinky family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tinky research. Another 113 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1243, 1244, 1268, 1273, 1279, 1379, 1581, 1617, 1620 and 1621 are included under the topic Early Tinky History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tinky Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Tinker, Tinkler, Tink, Tinke, Tyneker, Tynekar and many more.

Early Notables of the Tinky family

Thomas Tinker (c. 1581-1620), one of the Pilgrims who made the voyage on the Mayflower. He was a wood-sawyer, and was granted citizenship in Leyden January 6, 1617. In the winter of 1620-1621, he died along with his wife and son. It...
Another 41 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Tinky Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Tinky family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Thomas Tinker, his wife and their son, who arrived in Plymouth, MA, in 1620; aboard the "Mayflower," John Tinker, who arrived in Boston in 1635.



  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)


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