This interesting name derives from the customary courteous reply of one having received a drink i.e. "drinc hail" meaning "(drink) good-health or good-luck". The second element derives from the Olde Norse "heill" or the Olde English pre 7th century "hael" meaning "good-luck". The nickname, Drinc Hala (without surname) is recorded in the "Cartulary of Holy Trinity Abbey", Essex, dated 1200. The surname appears in the latter half of the 13th century (see below). In the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire (1301) the form Drinkale emerges, leading one (erroneously) to believe that the name bearer was a noted ale drinker! One William Drynkell is recorded in the "Register of the Freemen of the City of York", dated 1559. In the modern idiom the name has five spelling variations: Drinkale, Drink(h)all, Drinkald and Drinkel. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Drinkhale. which was dated 1281, in the "Calendar of Letter Book", London City. during the reign of King Edward 1, known as "The Hammer of the Scots" 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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