Explore the Family Name Tonkin
The meaning of Tonkin
English (Cornwall): variant of Tomkin (see Tomkins), where /m/ has developed to /ŋ/ before /k/. Compare Sincock as a variant of Simcock.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Tonkin in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Tonkin saw a slight dip in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 14,658th most popular, but fell to 15,418th by 2010 - a change of -5.18%. However, the number of individuals with this surname did grow marginally from 1,860 in 2000 to 1,900 in 2010, which is an increase of 2.15%. The proportion of individuals with this surname per 100k people also decreased by -7.25% during the same time period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #14,658 | #15,418 | -5.18% |
| Count | 1,860 | 1,900 | 2.15% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.69 | 0.64 | -7.25% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Tonkin
In terms of ethnicity, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows some shifts among those carrying the Tonkin surname. In 2000, the vast majority, 95.81%, identified as white, decreasing slightly to 94.68% in 2010. The percentage of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander grew from 0.59% in 2000 to 0.89% in 2010, a significant increase of 50.85%. The proportion of individuals who identified as Hispanic also increased from 1.51% in 2000 to 2.21% in 2010, a change of 46.36%. Those identifying as being of two or more races saw a small decrease from 1.88% in 2000 to 1.84% in 2010. There were no individuals who identified as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.81% | 94.68% | -1.18% |
| Hispanic | 1.51% | 2.21% | 46.36% |
| Two or More Races | 1.88% | 1.84% | -2.13% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.59% | 0.89% | 50.85% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |