Surname Jinks - Meaning and Origin

Jinks: What does the surname Jinks mean?

The surname Jinks is derived from the medieval English word ‘Jenkin’, which means ‘little John’ or ‘little Jen’. The Jen/Jin/Jinke/Jyn surname was broadly dispersed in England during the Middle Ages, and has many variants, including Jinks and its variants.

The origin of the name Jinks is Germanic and means ‘descendant of Jan’ or ‘descendant of John’. It also has a Welsh origin and is the modern version of the name Ifans, Gingas, or Gwyn, which all roughly mean ‘God is gracious’. Jinks is also an English habitational or topographic name derived from a place near Cockermouth in the county of Cumberland.

Today, the name Jinks is found in many countries and is especially common in English-speaking countries. It is derived from many different sources but is ultimately related to the medieval English word ‘Jenkin’, meaning ‘little John’ or ‘little Jen’. This name is associated with many different origins but remains one of the toughest to trace as it has so many variants.

Jinks: Where does the name Jinks come from?

The last name Jinks is of English origin, and can usually be found in areas of the United Kingdom. It has been present in the region for centuries, and can still be found in England today. Over time, some individuals have spread out to other parts of the world, mostly to countries that were previously part of the British Empire, such as Canada, Australia, and the United States.

In the United States, the last name Jinks is most often found in the southern states, such as Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. It's less common in other regions, such as the northeast or the midwest.

On a global scale, the last name Jinks is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, followed by the United States (mainly the south), Australia, and Canada. It is less common in other parts of the world, such as Asia and Africa, but there are still pockets of the population with this surname scattered throughout.

Overall, the last name Jinks is still fairly common in much of the English-speaking world. Because it is primarily derived from England, it is most familiar in areas with a long British or colonial history.

Variations of the surname Jinks

The surname Jinks is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is an old English locational name for a family who came from Jynckes in Yorkshire, which is derived from the old English pre-6th century words “gionaec” meaning “widow” and “cumb” meaning “valley”. The surname Jinks is also spelt as Jynks, Jynckes and Jinx. Variants of Jinks include Jenk, Jenks, Jinkson and Jinkesson.

However, some branches of the same families changed the spelling of their surnames to Jinkins and Jenkyns. As a result, these are also different variants of the same origin. In addition, some families also adopted other similar sounding surnames, such as Jenkin, Jenking and Jincks.

In Scotland, descendants of Jinks adopted some unique surnames, such as Gurdy, Juddery, Gurdie and Jurdie. Gurdy or Juddery was derived from the old English word “giorth,” which was used to describe a sowpig. Gurdie and Jurdie is thought to be a derivative of Jinks, possibly used as a nickname for someone who owned or cared for pigs.

In the US, the spelling of Jinks is mostly retained as is. Other variants such as Jinx, Jenk, Jenks, Jinkins, Jenkyns, Jenkin, Jenking and Jincks are also found in the country. In some cases, Jink(s) is also sometimes shortened to Jin(k). Over the years, there has been some further modifications, such as Jynks, Jynckes and Jinx, which all built up from the same origin of Jinks.

Famous people with the name Jinks

• Elton John: English singer, songwriter, composer and pianist.
• Ed Jinks: English television writer and producer.
• Paul Jinks: Australian film and television producer.
• Leon Jinks: American Jazz vocalist and composer.
• Rowdy Yates (pseudonym for Donald Jinks): American actor and producer.
• John Henry Jinks: American gospel musician and record producer.
• William M. Jinks: Welsh-born American film producer and director.
• Hannah Jinks: English artist and film producer.
• Tom Jinks: English actor and director.
• Thom Jinks: American composer, pianist, and arranger.
• Effin Jinks: American rapper and songwriter.
• William Jinks: English cricketer.
• Charles Jinks: Australian rules footballer.
• Robert Jinks: American biochemist and pharmacologist.

Other surnames

Jinkes