NameCensus.

UK surname

Adkin

Derived from the Old English personal name "Eadwine," meaning "prosperous friend."

In the 1881 census there were 636 people recorded with the Adkin surname, ranking it #5,582 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 811, ranked #6,830, down from #5,582 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes and Loughborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Devon, Wealden and Charnwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Adkin is 884 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.5%.

1881 census count

636

Ranked #5,582

Modern count

811

2016, ranked #6,830

Peak year

1911

884 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Adkin had 636 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,582 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 811 in 2016, ranked #6,830.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 884 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Adkin surname distribution map

The map shows where the Adkin surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Adkin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Adkin over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 434 #5,651
1861 historical 487 #5,363
1881 historical 636 #5,582
1891 historical 682 #5,739
1901 historical 761 #5,869
1911 historical 884 #5,037
1997 modern 770 #6,736
1998 modern 774 #6,938
1999 modern 787 #6,888
2000 modern 773 #6,955
2001 modern 759 #6,927
2002 modern 753 #7,088
2003 modern 743 #7,071
2004 modern 761 #6,948
2005 modern 741 #7,027
2006 modern 748 #6,996
2007 modern 755 #7,015
2008 modern 739 #7,185
2009 modern 746 #7,286
2010 modern 768 #7,260
2011 modern 758 #7,246
2012 modern 753 #7,198
2013 modern 773 #7,169
2014 modern 798 #7,015
2015 modern 815 #6,825
2016 modern 811 #6,830

Geography

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Where Adkins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Loughborough, Diseworth and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Devon, Wealden, Charnwood, Erewash and Barnet. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Loughborough Leicestershire
4 Diseworth Derbyshire
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Devon 009 East Devon
2 Wealden 001 Wealden
3 Charnwood 001 Charnwood
4 Erewash 015 Erewash
5 Barnet 003 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Adkin

These lists show first names that appear often with the Adkin surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Adkin

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Adkin, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Adkin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Adkin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Adkin is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Adkin is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Adkin falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Adkin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Adkin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Adkin

The surname Adkin is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the Old English personal name Adkin, a diminutive form of Adam. It is believed to have originated in the southern counties of England, particularly in areas like Sussex and Kent, where Anglo-Saxon settlements were prevalent.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Adechin" and "Adekin." This historical record suggests that the name was already in existence during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various spellings such as "Adekyn" and "Adekin" in medieval records and charters from counties like Essex and Hertfordshire. These variations highlight the fluid nature of spelling during that period, as scribes often recorded names based on their phonetic interpretation.

One notable bearer of the Adkin surname was Sir John Adkin (1510-1587), an English politician and landowner from Oxfordshire. He served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Woodstock during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another individual of historical significance was Richard Adkin (1612-1678), a Puritan minister and author from Oxfordshire. He published several works on religious subjects, including "The Spiritual Watchman" and "The Christian's Manual."

In the 18th century, the Adkin name appeared in various parish records and registers across England. One such example is William Adkin (1724-1798), a farmer and landowner from Lincolnshire, who is recorded in the parish records of Gainsborough.

During the 19th century, Thomas Adkin (1828-1902) was a notable figure, serving as the Mayor of Nottingham from 1891 to 1892. He was a prominent businessman and philanthropist who contributed significantly to the development of the city.

Another notable bearer of the Adkin surname was Sir Rowland Adkin (1858-1926), an English lawyer and politician. He served as a Member of Parliament for the Nottingham East constituency and was appointed as a High Court judge in 1914.

The Adkin surname has also been found in various place names throughout England, such as Adkin Street in Nottingham and Adkin Road in Canterbury, further emphasizing its historical roots and geographical distribution.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Adkin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Adkin surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Leicestershire leads with 148 Adkins recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.62x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 148 21.62x
Yorkshire 109 1.78x
Nottinghamshire 94 11.29x
Derbyshire 71 7.34x
Lancashire 41 0.56x
Surrey 32 1.06x
Middlesex 30 0.49x
Suffolk 21 2.79x
Kent 19 0.90x
Lincolnshire 17 1.72x
Staffordshire 10 0.48x
Glamorgan 6 0.56x
Bedfordshire 5 1.56x
Durham 5 0.27x
Gloucestershire 4 0.33x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.80x
Peeblesshire 3 10.33x
Hampshire 2 0.16x
Northamptonshire 2 0.34x
Roxburghshire 2 1.79x
Warwickshire 2 0.13x
Cheshire 1 0.07x
Devon 1 0.08x
Essex 1 0.08x
Hertfordshire 1 0.24x
Midlothian 1 0.12x
Oxfordshire 1 0.26x
Sussex 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Diseworth in Leicestershire leads with 33 Adkins recorded in 1881 and an index of 3750.00x.

Place Total Index
Diseworth 33 3750.00x
Nottingham St Mary 31 14.40x
Sheepshed 30 319.83x
Castle Donnington 22 387.32x
Loughborough 20 64.37x
Snenton 19 58.10x
Leicester St Margaret 17 10.18x
Ilkeston 16 59.04x
Long Riston 15 1923.08x
Ardwick 12 18.16x
Carlton 12 126.32x
Basford 11 28.68x
Middlesbrough 11 13.81x
Clifford Cum Boston 10 181.82x
Leeds 10 2.89x
Litchurch 10 25.71x
Heanor 9 62.24x
Kegworth 9 197.80x
Fazeley 8 211.08x
Hornsea 8 206.19x
Little Hale 8 1038.96x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 6.44x
West Derby 8 3.73x
Bungay St Mary 7 187.67x
Collingham 7 1000.00x
Holbeck 7 17.27x
Lewisham 7 6.23x
Breedon On The Hill 6 291.26x
Cromford 6 264.32x
Hucknall Torkard 6 28.44x
Islington London 6 1.00x
Linthorpe 6 16.43x
Long Whatton 6 405.41x
Mansfield 6 20.83x
North Cave Drewton 6 248.96x
Rusholme 6 30.71x
Wandsworth 6 10.09x
Bedford St Paul 5 22.80x
Bermondsey 5 2.72x
Bungay Holy Trinity 5 129.53x
Derby St Peter 5 16.24x
Lee 5 16.35x
Llantwit Vairdre 5 41.39x
Newington 5 2.19x
St Marylebone London 5 1.52x
Stapleford 5 73.96x
Chelsea London 4 2.15x
Cheltenham 4 4.28x
Clerkenwell London 4 2.74x
Deptford St Paul 4 2.46x
Duffield 4 52.49x
Hackney London 4 1.16x
Killamarsh 4 66.56x
Manchester 4 1.21x
Monk Bretton 4 64.62x
Reigate Borough 4 57.64x
Westoe 4 3.84x
Peebles 3 34.97x
Rotherham 3 8.70x
St Paul Lincoln 3 173.41x
Timworth 3 789.47x
Wroot 3 400.00x
Wyke In Wetherby 3 1000.00x
Burton Upon Trent 2 4.10x
Doncaster 2 4.47x
Epperstone 2 217.39x
Great Little Preston 2 114.29x
Hartington Town Quarter 2 219.78x
Hawick 2 7.99x
Normanton 2 24.51x
Pennington In Leigh 2 14.22x
Peterborough 2 4.76x
Plumstead 2 2.85x
Radcliffe 2 5.66x
Radford 2 4.73x
Sandiacre 2 57.97x
Shoreditch London 2 0.75x
Southwark Christchurch 2 6.91x
Stony Stratford West 2 77.82x
Ticknall 2 101.01x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Adkin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 50
Elizabeth 34
Sarah 25
Eliza 20
Ann 16
Emma 14
Annie 13
Ellen 9
Jane 9
Alice 7
Emily 7
Hannah 6
Ada 5
Anne 5
Charlotte 5
Edith 5
Maria 5
Martha 5
Florence 4
Frances 4
Gertrude 4
Kate 4
Clara 3
Minnie 3
Amy 2
Angelina 2
Bertha 2
Betsey 2
Catherine 2
Elizth. 2
Ethel 2
Fanny 2
Harriet 2
Isabella 2
Lois 2
Lucy 2
Mabel 2
Margaret 2
Olive 2
Agnes 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Elizh.A. 1
Ellin 1
F. 1
Heneritta 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Adkin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 47
John 40
George 26
Charles 19
Thomas 16
James 15
Henry 14
Joseph 10
Robert 10
Arthur 8
Samuel 5
Walter 5
Albert 4
David 4
Edward 3
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Isaac 3
Alfred 2
Frederick 2
Jesse 2
Jno. 2
Levi 2
Louis 2
Richard 2
Steven 2
Willm. 2
Ambrose 1
Andrew 1
Benjamin 1
Charlie 1
Clifford 1
Cyril 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Eliza 1
Ephraim 1
Ernest 1
Everard 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Michael 1
Norton 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Reuben 1

FAQ

Adkin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Adkin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 636 people were recorded with the Adkin surname. That placed it at #5,582 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Adkin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 811 in 2016. That gives Adkin a modern rank of #6,830.

What does the Adkin surname mean?

Derived from the Old English personal name "Eadwine," meaning "prosperous friend."

What does the Adkin map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Adkin bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.