Finkle

This interesting surname is a diminutive version of the Anglo-Saxon pre 10th Century "Finc(ho)", which literally translates as "the finch", but specifically is a nickname of endearment meaning "little bright bird", that became a baptismal name, and later a surname. In various forms it is found in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium; these forms include Fink, Finker, Finkman, Finkle and Vinck. The surname as Finch is occupational, and describes one who reared finches as a food delicacy, although the root origin is the same. The Coat of Arms of Finkle is a blue field charged with a silver pelican between three knights' spurs. Recording examples of the surname include: Bridgeta Finkle, who is also probably the same person as the Bridget Fynkyll shown below, who married a Daniell Blackeborne, also at St. Martin in the Fields, on June 17th 1576. The name is also well recorded in Northumberland from the early 17th Century, although usually as Fenkell, Finkell and Fincaill, although Edward Finkle is registered at Warkworth, on August 25th 1695, in the reign of William of Orange (1689 - 1702). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Bridget Fynkyll, which was dated September 1st 1555, christened at St. Martin in the Fields, Westminster, London, during the reign of Queen Mary 1, known as "Bloody Mary", 1554 - 1558. 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.