This interesting and unusual surname is of German origin and is derived from an occupational name for a person who prepared wool for weaving by twisting it into a kink. The name comes from the Middle Low German "kinke", bend, twist, similar to the Dutch "kink". Kinker is an example of the many German surnames derived from occupational names for people who had specialised skills in the weaving trade. Fuller and Webber are two other examples; Fuller is the same as the English surname, which as an occupational name given to a dresser of cloth, and Webber is the same as the English Weaver, which was the occupational name for a Weaver. The surname is not recorded in England until the early 19th Century. Among the sample recordings in Germany is the marriage of Herman Kinker and Anna Ilssabein Godes on February 2nd 1699 at Halle Stadt Evangelisch, Province, Westfalen, and the christening of Johann Friderich, son of Johann Henrich Kinker and Margrete Ilsabeing Bierman, on August 1st 1767 at Brockhagen Evangelisch, Province Westfalen. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Henrich Kinker (marriage to Margrete Diesstels), which was dated April 5th 1675, Brockhagen Evangelisch, Province Westfalen, Germany, during the reign of King Leopald 1, "Holy Roman Emperor", 1658 - 1705. 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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