Explore the Family Name Wink
The meaning of Wink
English: 1. from Middle English winke, a form of winche ‘winch, pulley’ (Old English wince), later developing the meaning ‘well’, presumably because a winch would have been used to extract water from a well. The surname is probably for someone who lived by a well. This may also be a topographic name for someone who lived by a sharp bend in a river or valley, from a transferred sense of Middle English winke. Compare Winch 1. 2. perhaps also a nickname from a further transferred use of the Middle English word in sense 1 above, for a lapwing (compare Middle English lapwink ‘lapwing’, Old English hlēapewince) or any bird known for its leaping and twisting flight. See Winch 3.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Wink in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname 'Wink' has seen a slight increase over the decade from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, 'Wink' was ranked 12,100 in terms of surname commonality and had a count of 2,365 instances. Ten years later, the rank improved to 11,894 with an increased count of 2,632, demonstrating a growth rate of 1.7% in popularity and an 11.29% rise in count. The proportion per 100k also saw an increase from 0.88 to 0.89.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #12,100 | #11,894 | 1.7% |
| Count | 2,365 | 2,632 | 11.29% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.88 | 0.89 | 1.14% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Wink
When looking at the ethnic identity associated with the surname 'Wink', as per the Decennial U.S. Census, it is predominantly linked to individuals identifying as White, though this group saw a minor decrease from 96.32% in 2000 to 95.29% in 2010. The group that saw the most significant percentage increase was American Indian and Alaskan Native, which rose from 0.25% to 0.65%, marking a 160% change. The proportion of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic also increased by 35.71% and 14.63% respectively while the Black demographic decreased by 17.92%. Notably, those identifying with two or more ethnicities increased from 0.72% to 1.22%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.32% | 95.29% | -1.07% |
| Hispanic | 1.23% | 1.41% | 14.63% |
| Two or More Races | 0.72% | 1.22% | 69.44% |
| Black | 1.06% | 0.87% | -17.92% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.25% | 0.65% | 160% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.42% | 0.57% | 35.71% |