Surname Tinkley - Meaning and Origin

Tinkley: What does the surname Tinkley mean?

The last name Tinkley most likely originated from English ancestry. It is likely derived from the Old English word 'Tingel,' which was a nickname for someone who was a prankster or troublemaker. The suffix 'ley' denoted a wood, so it is likely that Tinkley meant "living in the prankster's wood."

The first recorded instance of the name Tinkley was in the late 1600s. It is believed to have sprung from Worcestershire, one of the oldest counties of England. Tinkley is a rare name, and those with the surname tend to live primarily in the Midlands and Southeast of England, though there are now people with the name living in other parts of the United Kingdom and the world.

The Tinkley family can trace its origins to a certain Roger de Tynkeley. This man was granted a large parcel of land following the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Roger's descendants spread across the West Midlands and eventually settled in Worcestershire. Over time, the spelling of the surname changed, resulting in the modern spelling of the Tinkley surname.

So, to summarise, the last name Tinkley refers to people of English ancestry who are descended from Roger de Tynkeley. Its origin lies in a nickname used to describe a prankster or troublemaker, meaning someone living in a "prankster's wood." The earliest known record of the name comes from the late 1600s, and it is primarily associated with the Midlands and Southeast of England.

Tinkley: Where does the name Tinkley come from?

The last name Tinkley is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. Tinkley is derived from an old English word meaning “the place by the ting.” The name is believed to be associated with a place in North Yorkshire, England. In the year 1881, the Tinkley surname was recorded 1,753 times in the United Kingdom.

Since then, the numbers of people named Tinkley have slowly but steadily grown during the late 18th and 19th centuries and continue to be common in the United Kingdom today.

In recent times, the Tinkley surname likely has its peak in the Cumbria, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, West Midlands, and Yorkshire regions of England. Here, it tends to be among the 100 most common surnames. It can also be found to a lesser degree in Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.

Outside of the United Kingdom, the Tinkley surname is considerably less common. However, it still does have a presence in other countries. Many people with Tinkley surname have immigrated to the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries, and today, it’s possible to find small numbers of people with the last name Tinkley living all over the world.

Variations of the surname Tinkley

The surname Tinkley has several variants, spellings, and surnames of similar origin, including Tinkley, Tinkly, Tinklye, Tinkle, Tinkles, Tinkler, Tinkleson, and Tinklery.

The name Tinkley most likely comes from Old English words and was first found in England. It is derived from the words 'ting', meaning 'tinkling' or 'to make a sound', and 'leah', which refers to a bygone type of clearing or meadow. Therefore, the name Tinkley most likely derived from someone who lived near or worked in a place called Tinkley, which could either refer to a meadow that made a tinkling sound or to someone who tingled or made a tinkling sound.

The spelling variants of Tinkley are generally variations of the same word and therefore suggest the same kind of origin. Tinkly is most likely derived from the same origins as Tinkley, with a variation in the spelling. Tinklye and Tinkle may have been derived from the same kind of mindstate as Tinkley, with a change in the spelling, which can be an indication of variations in phonetics. Tinkles and Tinkler may have been derived from the same root word and may have come about from similar phonetics, but with an added suffix, -er, to indicate someone of the same status or living in the same area. Tinkleson may have been created from the same root word and the two added suffixes, -le and -son, indicating a son of the same status or living in the same area. Lastly, Tinklery could have come about from the same root word with the addition of the suffix -ery, which can suggest occupation, such as someone involved in tinkling or making tinkling sounds.

In conclusion, the surname Tinkley has many variants, spellings, and surnames of similar origin, including Tinkley, Tinkly, Tinklye, Tinkle, Tinkles, Tinkler, Tinkleson, and Tinklery. They all likely have the same origin, which is derived from Old English words and suggests someone who lives near or works in a place called Tinkley or someone who tingles or makes a tinkling sound.

Famous people with the name Tinkley

• Sam Tinkley: an English professional footballer currently playing for Exeter City Football Club.
• Mark Tinkley: a former English professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
• Malcolm Tinkley: an English comedian, actor, and voice artist best known for his role as “Costard” in William Shakespeare’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor”.
• Larry Tinkley: an American musician, singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist.
• Emily Tinkley: an English actress, best known for her role as Jo Browning in the BBC comedy series “The Story of Tracy Beaker”.
• Nathan Tinkley: a former English cricketer who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
• Stuart Tinkley: former English professional footballer who played primarily as a right back.
• Graham Tinkley: a well-known professional photographer specialising in product, advertising and lifestyle photography.
• Jacqueline Tinkley: a British voice actress, best known for her roles in the 2004 version of the television series “Thunderbirds”.
• Betty Tinkley: an English actress who appeared on TV and stage from the 1950s until the 1980s.

Other surnames

TinkleTinklehurst