Tinker is an English occupational surname referring to a mender of metal household utensils such as kettles, pots, and pans. The name likely derives from the tinking sound of light hammering on metal or from the word tin, the material commonly worked by tinkers. The occupation dates back to the thirteenth century, originally attested as tyckner or tinkler.Historical and Cultural ContextTinkers were itinerant tinsmiths who traveled to repair goods in villages and towns. In British and Irish history, the trade was particularly associated with Irish Travellers and Scottish Highland Travellers, whose language, Beurla Reagaird, means “metalworkers.” However, the term Tinker used for these communities is now considered offensive. The occupation appears in literature and colloquial expressions; for example, a tinker's dam (or damn) and tinker's curse refer to something considered insignificant, as in “I don't give a tinker's curse.”Notable BearersJoseph Tinker (1880–1948), English professional footballer who played for Manchester City and Bradford City.Grant Tinker (1926–2016), American television executive and husband of Mary Tyler Moore.Chauncey Brewster Tinker (1876–1963), American literary scholar and authority on Samuel Johnson.Distribution and VariantsThe surname Tinker is most common in the United States and United Kingdom. It is primarily an English name, with concentrations in northern England and the Midlands. Related names include Tinkler and Tinkerman.Meaning: Occupational name for a metal utensil menderOrigin: EnglishType: SurnameUsage Regions: United Kingdom, United States, Ireland