Explore the Family Name Zink
The meaning of Zink
1. German: from Middle High German zinke ‘peak’, acquired either as a topographic name by someone who lived on or near a crag or on a pointed piece of land or as a nickname for a man with a singularly pointed nose. Compare modern German slang Zinken ‘hooter, nose’. The same word was used to denote the cornet, although the semantic development is not clear, and the surname may sometimes have been metonymic for a player of this instrument. It was not until the 16th century that the metal zinc was discovered and named (apparently from its jagged appearance in the furnace), so this is unlikely to be the origin of the surname. 2. German: from the old personal name Jacinctus, which derives from Hyacinthus, a Christian saint’s name (see Jacinto). Compare Sink. 3. In some cases also a Germanized or Americanized form of Czech and Slovenian Cink.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Zink in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname 'Zink' has seen a slight fluctuation in its popularity over the past decade. In 2000, Zink was ranked 3824th among all surnames in the United States, with approximately 8,525 individuals carrying it. By 2010, the rank had slightly declined to 3882nd, even though the count of people with this surname increased by 7.14% to approximately 9,134. The proportion per 100k also saw a marginal decrease from 3.16 in 2000 to 3.1 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #3,824 | #3,882 | -1.52% |
| Count | 8,525 | 9,134 | 7.14% |
| Proportion per 100k | 3.16 | 3.1 | -1.9% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Zink
When looking at the ethnic identity associated with the surname 'Zink', Decennial U.S. Census data shows interesting changes over time. Predominantly White in 2000 at 96.49%, the percentage decreased slightly to 95.22% in 2010. Meanwhile, percentages of other ethnicities rose. Individuals identifying as Black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, and of two or more races increased their representation among the Zink surname holders. The most significant change was observed in those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native, which saw an increase from 0.15% in 2000 to 0.33% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.49% | 95.22% | -1.32% |
| Hispanic | 1.33% | 1.82% | 36.84% |
| Two or More Races | 1.01% | 1.27% | 25.74% |
| Black | 0.5% | 0.7% | 40% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.52% | 0.67% | 28.85% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.15% | 0.33% | 120% |
Zink ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Zink is French & German, which comprises 38.9% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (36.1%) and Eastern European (6.6%). Additional ancestries include Italian, Scandinavian, Ashkenazi Jewish, Spanish & Portuguese, and Chinese.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| French & German | 38.9% |
| British & Irish | 36.1% |
| Eastern European | 6.6% |
| Other | 18.4% |
Possible origins of the surname Zink
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Zink have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 78.40% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 77.90% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 77.90% |
| West Yorkshire, United Kingdom | 77.90% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 77.90% |
What Zink haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Zink is R-Z19, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-Z19 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-L2 and R-PF7589, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Lawrence, Randall, Beck, Piper, Myers, Schuster, Moyer, Mueller, Meyers, Sutton.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Zink surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343
Your paternal lineage may be linked to King Louis XVI
The rule of France by men of the House of Bourbon began with King Henri IV in 1589 C.E. and continued until the beheading of his direct paternal descendant King Louis XVI in 1793. Several years ago, researchers analyzed a mummified head and a blood-soaked cloth that they believed might belong to the two kings, and concluded that the royal paternal line belonged to haplogroup G. In a more recent study, however, a different set of researchers tested three living men who are direct descendants of the Bourbon kings. Their efforts revealed that the male lineage of the House of Bourbon is actually a branch of haplogroup R-M405.
Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Zink have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Zink" Surname 26.0%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Zink" Surname 28.8%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Zink" Surname 21.4%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Zink" Surname 22.0%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Zink?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Zink are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition