Surname Pinchbeck - Meaning and Origin
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Pinchbeck: What does the surname Pinchbeck mean?
The last name Pinchbeck is of English origin and it dates back to the medieval era. It is believed to have started as a nickname given by a person who sold a type of low-cost counterfeit jewelry known as 'pinchbeck'. This jewelry was made from a mixture of metals, usually copper and zinc, that created an alloy which gave the appearance of more expensive gold or silver jewelry.
The name itself is also believed to have come from the name of the inventor of pinchbeck, Christopher Pinchbeck. In any case, being given this nickname was meant to be an insult, since it essentially meant that the person was a cheat or a fraud. Over time, this name has become a family name and has survived for centuries.
The surname Pinchbeck also has developed different originations and meanings, depending on the country. It can refer to a church bell ringer, a maker of clock-keys, an instrument maker, a merchant or a resident of a town in England. All these meanings refer to professions which required a certain amount of skill, implying that the original holders of the surname achieved some degree of success in whatever profession they held.
The current holders of the name Pinchbeck can take pride in the heritage of their name, enjoying both its proud and humble meanings.
Order DNA origin analysisPinchbeck: Where does the name Pinchbeck come from?
The last name Pinchbeck is a rare surname. Today, it is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, specifically in England. Records indicate that the highest concentration of those bearing the surname Pinchbeck is in Lincolnshire where the family originated. Throughout the 19th and early 20th century, many Pinchbeck families emigrated to the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Pinchbeck families are believed to be descended from a Englishman, Geoffrey Pinchbeck, who was born in 1527 in Barton upon Humber, Lincolnshire. The spelling of the family name subsequently evolved over the centuries. Today, it is still found predominantly in England, but also among emigrant English populations in North America and Down Under.
The surname Pinchbeck is related to a hamlet of that name in the district of Lindsey, Lincolnshire. The family initially lived in and around the area of the hamlet, which was at first called Pinchepoch. Through time, the word Pinchepoch evolved into Pinchbeck.
From the hamlet of Pinchbeck, some of the family eventually moved to Barton upon Humber, where many of Pinchbeck’s ancestors are believed to originate. Other branches of the family spread out to other areas of England.
Today, there is still a large concentration of the Pinchbeck family living in Lincolnshire. They have been in the area since the 16th century, and still form part of the local community. In North America, the surname is found mainly in the United States, especially in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio.
Variations of the surname Pinchbeck
The surname Pinchbeck is an Anglo-Saxon surname of English origin. It is derived from the old English pre 7th century word “pincan” meaning “to pinch” combined with the word “beck” meaning “stream”. This indicates that the original bearer of the name lived by a stream and earned his living by pinching, or catching, fish from the stream. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Pinchbeck are Pinchback, Pinchbrock, Puncheon, Pinckard, Pinchart, Pinches, Pinchart, Pincher, Pinsson, Punnett, and Pinkett.
The surname Pinchbeck was first recorded in the city of London in the mid 16th century. A John Pinchbech was recorded in London in 1578, while a Thomas Pinchbeck appeared in court records in 1588. The name is also found in early records in many other parts of England. In the 16th century, a Francis Pinchbeck was recorded in Derbyshire. A Jacob Pinchbeck was an early emigrant to the United States, sailing from London on the Mayflower in the early 1600s, subsequently settling in what is now Massachusetts.
The surname Pinchbeck has spread to many other parts of the world, as those bearing the name have emigrated, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries. Variants of the name can be found in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States.
Famous people with the name Pinchbeck
- Douglas Pinchbeck: a British filmmaker and writer known for his work in experimental and documentary films.
- John Pinchbeck: an English historian, genealogist and Freemason who served as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London.
- Dave Pinchbeck: an English cricketer who played for Warwickshire between 1957 and 1964.
- Christopher Pinchbeck: an English watchmaker in the days of the early Georgian era who was known for his use of early alloys to create watches and clocks.
- Clare Pinchbeck: a British actress who has appeared in films, TV series, and commercials.
- Bob Pinchbeck: a British footballer who made over 200 appearances in the Football League and scored a total of 8 goals during his career.
- Tom Pinchbeck: an English footballer who played as a defender for Bury, Grimsby Town and Darlington in the EFL.
- John Pinchbeck: an English rugby union player who played at centre for Gloucester and Harlequins.
- Harold Pinchbeck: the former chairman of the Pinchbeck Watch Company, a family-run business founded by his father, Christopher.
- Eric Pinchbeck: an English actor and writer who has starred in films, television series, and theater productions.