Show ContentsBrink History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Brink

What does the name Brink mean?

The Brink surname is of topographic origin, deriving from the Middle Low German word "brinc," which referred to a raised meadow among the low-lying marshlands. No doubt the first bearers of this name lived or worked on a such a piece of land.

Early Origins of the Brink family

The surname Brink was first found in Holland, where the name became noted for its many branches in the region. The name was first recorded in North Holland, a province of the Netherlands. The principal cities are Amsterdam, Haarlem and Hilversum. It was the seat of the old Counts of Holland. One early record is of a Johann Brinkeman, resident of Barth, Pomerania in the year 1334.

Early History of the Brink family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brink research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1841 and 1892 are included under the topic Early Brink History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brink Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Brinkerhoff, Brinckerhoff, Brinkahoff, Brinkirhoff, Brinker, Brinkman, Brinckman, Brinck, van den Brinck, Vane ten Brinck, Van den Brink, Brink, Brinks and many more.

Early Notables of the Brink family

From this era of Dutch history, those of this who distinguished themselves included

  • Bernard ten Brink (1841-1892), Dutch philologist, born in Amsterdam...

Brink World Ranking

In the United States, the name Brink is the 2,853rd most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 1 However, in Netherlands, the name Brink is ranked the 174th most popular surname with an estimated 6,770 people with that name. 2 And in South Africa, the name Brink is the 577th popular surname with an estimated 11,957 people with that name. 3


Brink migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Brink Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Lambert Huybertse Brink, who landed in New Netherland(s) in 1620-1664 4
  • Lambert Huybense Brink, who arrived in New Netherland(s) in 1620-1664 4
  • Lambert Huvbertse Brink, who arrived in New Netherlands between the years 1620-1664
Brink Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Jacob Brink, who settled in Maryland in 1719
  • Peter Brink, who arrived in New York in 1754
  • Peter Brink, who landed in New York, NY in 1754 4
Brink Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Jan Van Brink, who arrived at Philadelphia in 1802
  • Harman Henry Brink, who arrived in New York in 1838
  • Jos Martin Brink, who arrived in America in 1840 4
  • Roelof Brink, aged 25, who landed in New York, NY in 1846 4
  • Mrs. Marie Brink, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1847 aboard the ship "Franziska"
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Brink Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Axel Brink, who landed in Chile in 1906 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Brink (post 1700) +

  • Perry Brink (1830-1874), American founder of the Brinks security company on May 5, 1859 in Chicago, Illinois
  • Brigadier-General Francis Gerard Brink (1893-1952), American Chief of Operations, South-East Asia Command (1944-1945) 5
  • Simon Brink, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Woodstock, Illinois, 1891-96 6
  • Robert H. Brink, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Virginia, 2008; Member of Virginia State House of Delegates 48th District; Elected 2011 6
  • John L. Brink, American politician, Village President of River Forest, Illinois, 1935-42 6
  • Mrs. John Brink, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kansas, 1960 6
  • George M. Brink, American Republican politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Ulster County 1st District, 1891-92; Postmaster at Kingston, New York, 1898-1902 6
  • Edward H. Brink, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 1916 6
  • Earl R. Brink, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Broome County 2nd District, 1929, 1931 6
  • Ben Brink, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from California 14th District, 1994, 1996 6
  • ... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
  3. "Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
  4. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  5. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, November 3) Francis Brink. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Brink/Francis_Gerard/USA.html
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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