Link History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Etymology of Link

What does the name Link mean?

Austria is the homeland of the Link family. Originally, the Austrian people were known only by a single name. The process by which hereditary surnames were adopted in Austria is extremely interesting. The process took place during the Middle Ages when people began to assume an extra name to avoid confusion and to further identify themselves. Often they adopted names that were derived from nicknames.

Early Origins of the Link family

The surname Link was first found in Austria, where the name became noted for its many branches within the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied and enrolled by the princes of the region. Chronicles mention one Francze Lynke (Lynkehand) of Liegnitz in 1397, and one Herman Lynkfuss of Sorau in 1381. The literal meaning of the name was "left-handed," or even "one who is clumsy or awkward," but was taken on by numerous branches of the family. They became a power unto themselves, and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew wealthier and more influential.

Early History of the Link family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Link research. Another 165 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1286, 1658, 1674, 1734, 1807, 1816, 1820 and 1905 are included under the topic Early Link History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Link Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Link include Linker, Lincker, Link, Linke, Linke, Lynker, Lyncker, Lynke, Linkhand, Lyncke and many more.

Early Notables of the Link family

More information is included under the topic Early Link Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Link Ranking

In the United States, the name Link is the 1,605^th most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. 1

Link migration to the United States +

Austria was made a republic after the First World War. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was broken up by the Treaty of Versailles and many of its people found themselves in the new nation of Czechoslovakia. Many other Austrians and expatriate Austrians made their way to North America in the 20th century. Most landed in Philadelphia, later continuing on to the states of Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Some Austrian settlers also went to western Canada and Ontario. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Link or a variant listed above:

Link Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jacob Link, who settled in Philadelphia in 1749
Michael Link, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1751 2
Christian Link, who settled in Philadelphia in 1753
Jurg Link, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1754 2
Jacob Link, who landed in North Carolina in 1764 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Link Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Phil Link, who arrived in America in 1807 2
Phil Jak Link, who landed in America in 1807 2
Anton Link, who arrived in Ohio in 1818 2
Christian Link, who arrived in America in 1819 2
Georg Link, who landed in Brazil in 1827 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Link migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Link Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. John Link U.E., "Johannes, Gottfried, Gottfriedt" (b. 1756) who settled in Cornwall, Ontario c. 1784 married to Mary Empey having 9 children, he died in 1841 Cornwall, Ontario 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Link (post 1700) +

William Theodore Link (1933-2020), American film and television screenwriter and producer
Arthur Link (b. 1914), American politician, Governor of South Dakota from 1973
Joseph Link Jr. (b. 1913), American economics professor and president of a number of companies
Edwin Link (b. 1904), American founder and president of Link Aeronautical Corp. (1921-69), and the founder and president of Link Aviation, Inc. (1935)
Arthur Stanley Link (b. 1920), American historian, educator, and editor
Johann Heinrich Friedrich Link (1767-1851), German naturalist and botanist
Christoph Link (b. 1933), German/Austrian professor of law
Jean Link (1938-2020), Luxembourgian Olympic fencer
Link Gaetz (b. 1968), Canadian former NHL ice hockey player who played for the Minnesota North Stars and San Jose Sharks

Historic Events for the Link family +

USS Indianapolis

George Charles Link, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 4

Sources +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew