This most interesting and unusual surname is of early medieval English origin, and is a diminutive of Tinker, an occupational name for a mender of pots and pans and other household utensils, from the Middle English "tinkere", from "tink", tinkle or an abrupt sound made by striking resonant metal with something hard and light, plus the diminutive suffix "-in". Travelling pedlars were also known by this name because they made their approach known by tinkling, either by ringing or making a tinkling noise. During the time of King Edward V1 (1548 - 1554), a law was passed which stated that "No person or persons commonly called Pedlar, Tynker or Pety Chapmand, shall wander or go from one towne to another...and sell pynnes, poyntes laces, gloves, knyves, glasses, tapes or any suche kynde of wares whatsoever or gather connye skynnes". Tinker itself first appears when one Robert le Tinker is recorded in 1243, in the Assize Court Rolls of Somerset. Thomas Tinkling was christened on March 19th 1727, at St. Benet Paul's Wharf, London, while William, son of William and Elizabeth Tinklin, was christened at St. George in the East, London, on April 27th 1735. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of George Tinkling, which was dated December 2nd 1677, christening witness at Holy Trinity in the Minories, London, during the reign of King Charles 11, known as "The Merry Monarch", 1660 - 1685. 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.

© Copyright: Name Origin Research 1980 - 2024