Tinker
Encyclopedia
A tinker was originally an itinerant
tinsmith
, who mended household utensils. The term "tinker" became used in British society to refer to marginalized
persons. In this later sense, "tinker" may mean:
Tinker as a surname is a very old Anglo-Saxon name, with variations of Le Tinklere and Tinkler, appearing when surnames were adopted, many from occupations. Having no Irish or Romany connections, it is found mainly in Yorkshire and Norfolk. A Tinker was listed among the Pilgrims who sailed on the Mayflower
in 1620 to the New World
, but he died within a few months.
The Tinker name did not occur in Ireland until the late 17th century, after the English Civil War
, when former members of Oliver Cromwell
's New Model Army
settled there after service. The Gypsy connotation arose later from tinkers who travelled the British Isles to ply their trade. Tinkers were originally not Romanies or Gypsies, although some Romany adopted the tinker's trade.
Tinker descendants are recorded as living in the parish of Letheringsett near Holt in North Norfolk. After moving to Kensington in London, others now live mainly in the South of the UK.
.
Itinerant
An itinerant is a person who travels from place to place with no fixed home. The term comes from the late 16th century: from late Latin itinerant , from the verb itinerari, from Latin iter, itiner ....
tinsmith
Tinsmith
A tinsmith, or tinner or tinker or tinplate worker, is a person who makes and repairs things made of light-coloured metal, particularly tinware...
, who mended household utensils. The term "tinker" became used in British society to refer to marginalized
Marginalization
In sociology, marginalisation , or marginalization , is the social process of becoming or being made marginal or relegated to the fringe of society e.g.; "the marginalization of the underclass", "marginalisation of intellect", etc.-Individual:Marginalization at the individual level results in an...
persons. In this later sense, "tinker" may mean:
- Irish travellerIrish TravellerIrish Travellers are a traditionally nomadic people of ethnic Irish origin, who maintain a separate language and set of traditions. They live predominantly in the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States.-Etymology:...
, a nomadic or itinerant people of Irish origin - Scottish travellerScottish TravellersScottish Travellers, or the people termed loosely Gypsies and Tinkers in Scotland, consist of a number of diverse, unrelated communities, with groups speaking a variety of different languages and holding to distinct customs, histories, and traditions...
, a nomadic or itinerant people of Scottish origin - Gypsy.
Tinker as a surname is a very old Anglo-Saxon name, with variations of Le Tinklere and Tinkler, appearing when surnames were adopted, many from occupations. Having no Irish or Romany connections, it is found mainly in Yorkshire and Norfolk. A Tinker was listed among the Pilgrims who sailed on the Mayflower
Mayflower
The Mayflower was the ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from a site near the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, , in 1620...
in 1620 to the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
, but he died within a few months.
The Tinker name did not occur in Ireland until the late 17th century, after the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, when former members of Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
's New Model Army
New Model Army
The New Model Army of England was formed in 1645 by the Parliamentarians in the English Civil War, and was disbanded in 1660 after the Restoration...
settled there after service. The Gypsy connotation arose later from tinkers who travelled the British Isles to ply their trade. Tinkers were originally not Romanies or Gypsies, although some Romany adopted the tinker's trade.
Tinker descendants are recorded as living in the parish of Letheringsett near Holt in North Norfolk. After moving to Kensington in London, others now live mainly in the South of the UK.
Tinker's damn
A tinker's damn or tinker's cuss, is a British expression of contempt for something considered insignificant. In common usage, the expression is used this way: "I don't give a tinker's damn what the Vicar thinks", or sometimes shortened to, "I don't give a tinker's about the Vicar." In this context, the speaker is expressing contempt for the local clergyman and his opinion. A tinker's curse was considered of little significance because tinkers were reputed to swear habitually.Tinkering
To tinker with something is to build or rebuild via a process also known as bricolageBricolage
Bricolage is a term used in several disciplines, among them the visual arts, to refer to the construction or creation of a work from a diverse range of things that happen to be available, or a work created by such a process...
.