Surname Finck - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'F'
Finck: What does the surname Finck mean?
The last name Finck is of German origin and has been traced back to the Rhineland Palatinate region of Germany. It is derived from the Old German word "finc", meaning a point or spike, and was most likely an occupational surname given to metalworkers and blacksmiths who hammered metal into spikes and points such as nails, horseshoes, or arrowheads.
The name spread to surrounding regions such as Holland, France, and Switzerland, and eventually to America in the 19th century. It is most commonly found in Northern Germany, the Netherlands, and North America.
Due to their work, the earliest known Fincks were seen as industrious and hardworking. Some are said to have been among the first metalworkers in the American colonies, with various members of the family working as blacksmiths, horseshoers, and armorers.
Today, Finck is a fairly common surname across a wide variety of countries. It is most common in Northern Germany, but can also be found in the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, and the United States. It is likely a product of immigration, as many members of the Finck family immigrated to these countries in search of greater opportunities. Meanwhile, other members of the family still remain in the Rhineland Palatinate.
Order DNA origin analysisFinck: Where does the name Finck come from?
The last name Finck is most commonly found in the United States and Germany, with some families in the UK and other European countries. In 2020, the United States was home to an estimated 20,000 people with the last name Finck. It is also especially popular in Germany, with more than 15,000 people currently bearing the name. Finck is thought to be of German origins and may have come to the United States with German immigrants centuries ago. Variations of Finck can also be found in countries such as France, Switzerland, Austria, and the Netherlands.
In the United States, Finck is mostly concentrated in the Midwestern states, particularly Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Missouri. The states of Texas, California, Pennsylvania, New York, Florida, and New Jersey are also home to significant numbers of the name. There are also several thousand Fincks spread throughout smaller towns and cities across the country.
Finck is much less common in other parts of the world, particularly outside of Europe. Nevertheless some Fincks can be found in Canada, Australia, and other countries with German/European immigrants. The Finck surname is also growing in popularity in Latin America, especially in Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Brazil.
Variations of the surname Finck
The surname Finck is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German finc, meaning ‘finial’ or ‘peak’. It is an occupational name for a finisher or an ornamental metal worker. Due to its German origin, this surname has many variant spellings, including Fink, Finke, Fincke, and Finckh. It may also be found in the forms Fenck and Finckel.
In addition, there are several surnames that have evolved from Finck and its variants, such as Fincks, Finks, Finkler, Finken, and Finklestein. Although the original spelling was usually preserved, variations in spelling of the name have occurred due to its phonetic similarity with other names, such as Crane and Kranek.
The immigrant spelling of the name is usually found to be Fink, because of its phonetic similarity to English language nouns that involve a finch, as in a type of bird. In the USA, the spelling is usually found as Fink or Fincke, while other countries also have slight variations.
The name has a long history and is recorded among some of the important families and lineages of Germany. It is likely that many of those known by this surname are descendant from a single individual who first adopted the surname in its original form many centuries ago.
Famous people with the name Finck
- Karl Finck (1855–1917) was a German artist and interior designer, best known for his stained glass artworks.
- Franz Finck (1857–1932) was a German Catholic priest and historian, remembered for his work on hymns.
- Thresea Finck (1925–2004) was a German printmaker, sculptor, and multimedia artist.
- Günther Finck (1910–1980) was a German operatic conductor, remembered for his performances at the Opera North.
- Paul Finck (1929–2005) was an American jazz trumpet player and composer, remembered for his Bebop-influenced music.
- Jeffrey Finck (born 1968) is an American singer-songwriter, best known for his folk and roots-rock music.
- Fred Finck (1926–2012) was an American painter, sculptor, and photographer, noted for his incorporation of materials into his art.
- Carl Finck (1882–1955) was a German-American cellist and composer, most famous for his adaptation Hamlet Overture.
- Werner Finck (1903–1978) was a German actor and cabaret artist, remembered for his wit and charm.
- Charles Finck (1878–1951) was an American ornithologist and bird photographer, remembered for his innovative work.