NameCensus.

UK surname

Akins

Derived from the medieval personal name Atkin, a diminutive of Adam, which is of Hebrew origin meaning "red earth."

In the 1881 census there were 75 people recorded with the Akins surname, ranking it #22,893 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 292, ranked #15,022, up from #22,893 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tipton otherwise Tibington, Whittlesey St Mary and St Andrew, Standground (Stilton & Peterborough, Northamptonshire) and Brighton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Gwynedd and Calderdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Akins is 292 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 289.3%.

1881 census count

75

Ranked #22,893

Modern count

292

2016, ranked #15,022

Peak year

2016

292 bearers

Map years

6

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Akins had 75 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,893 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 292 in 2016, ranked #15,022.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 146 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Akins surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Akins surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Akins 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 73 #20,581
1861 historical 139 #16,263
1881 historical 75 #22,893
1891 historical 146 #18,664
1901 historical 128 #19,822
1911 historical 96 #23,193
1997 modern 231 #16,049
1998 modern 235 #16,358
1999 modern 232 #16,594
2000 modern 246 #15,914
2001 modern 236 #16,094
2002 modern 247 #15,941
2003 modern 247 #15,733
2004 modern 238 #16,242
2005 modern 247 #15,763
2006 modern 241 #16,139
2007 modern 241 #16,341
2008 modern 237 #16,688
2009 modern 238 #17,002
2010 modern 252 #16,701
2011 modern 256 #16,383
2012 modern 263 #15,954
2013 modern 270 #15,911
2014 modern 287 #15,342
2015 modern 289 #15,153
2016 modern 292 #15,022

Geography

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Where Akins' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tipton otherwise Tibington, Whittlesey St Mary and St Andrew, Standground (Stilton & Peterborough, Northamptonshire), Brighton, Liverpool and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Gwynedd, Calderdale and Kirklees. 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 Tipton otherwise Tibington Staffordshire
2 Whittlesey St Mary and St Andrew, Standground (Stilton & Peterborough, Northamptonshire) Cambridgeshire
3 Brighton Sussex
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 033 County Durham
2 Gwynedd 016 Gwynedd
3 County Durham 038 County Durham
4 Calderdale 015 Calderdale
5 Kirklees 029 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Akins

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Akins

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Akins, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Akins surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Akins 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Akins is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Akins is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Akins falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Akins 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 Akins, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Akins

The surname Akins is believed to have originated from the Old English word 'ac', meaning oak tree. It is a locational name that would have been given to someone who lived near an oak grove or forest.

The earliest known record of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as 'Acun'. This entry refers to a landholder in Buckinghamshire, England. Over time, the name evolved into various spellings such as Aken, Akin, and eventually Akins.

One notable early bearer of the name was Robert Akins, who was born around 1320 in Shropshire, England. He was a merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the local community.

Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas Akins (1570-1638), a member of the English gentry from Gloucestershire. He served as a Member of Parliament and was knighted by King James I in 1603.

In the 17th century, the name Akins began to appear in colonial America. One of the earliest recorded instances was Robert Akins, who arrived in Virginia in 1635. He later settled in Maryland and became a prosperous tobacco planter.

During the American Revolutionary War, Colonel Roger Akins (1725-1799) from Massachusetts served in the Continental Army. He was renowned for his bravery and leadership in several battles against the British.

In the 19th century, James Akins (1810-1880) was a prominent lawyer and politician from Tennessee. He served as a judge and was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1857.

The name Akins has also been associated with several place names throughout history. For example, Akenshaw in Lancashire, England, derives its name from the Old English words 'ac' and 'sceaga', meaning oak grove.

Over the centuries, the surname Akins has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including farmers, soldiers, politicians, and professionals. While its origins can be traced back to England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Akins families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Akins 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. Lancashire leads with 20 Akins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.24x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 20 2.24x
Yorkshire 17 2.28x
Cambridgeshire 7 14.72x
Middlesex 7 0.93x
Staffordshire 5 1.97x
Surrey 5 1.37x
Warwickshire 5 2.64x
Essex 3 2.02x
Berkshire 1 1.77x
Brecknockshire 1 6.66x
Carmarthenshire 1 3.16x
Isle of Man 1 7.17x
Leicestershire 1 1.20x
Northamptonshire 1 1.42x
Northumberland 1 0.89x
Sussex 1 0.79x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kirkdale in Lancashire leads with 8 Akins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 53.37x.

Place Total Index
Kirkdale 8 53.37x
Bradford 7 38.85x
Liverpool 7 12.93x
Whittlesey St Mary St 7 421.69x
Skelton In Guisbrough 6 298.51x
Clapham 5 53.25x
Tipton 5 64.43x
Willenhall 5 16666.67x
West Ham 3 9.17x
Bromley London 2 12.11x
Burnley 2 26.63x
Islington London 2 2.75x
Oldham 2 6.95x
Paddington London 2 7.24x
Birdsall 1 1250.00x
Brighton 1 3.91x
Carmarthen St Peter 1 36.90x
Elswick 1 11.21x
Fxhls Bythrp Btrwch 1 909.09x
Great Doddington 1 666.67x
Horsforth 1 61.35x
Kirby Grindalyth 1 1428.57x
Leicester St Margaret 1 4.92x
Llangattock 1 81.97x
New Windsor 1 52.63x
Onchan 1 24.88x
Preston 1 4.19x
St Marylebone London 1 2.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Jane 5
Ann 4
Sarah 4
Alice 2
Elizabeth 2
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Agness 1
Annie 1
Bertha 1
Ellenor 1
Emila 1
Hannah 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
Leonora 1
Louisa 1
Mabel 1
Maria 1
Rachel 1
Sara 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 6
John 5
William 5
George 3
James 3
Patrick 2
Alfred 1
Charles 1
Edward 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Horace 1
Jos. 1
Josheph 1
Robert 1
Stephen 1
W.E. 1

FAQ

Akins surname: questions and answers

How common was the Akins surname in 1881?

In 1881, 75 people were recorded with the Akins surname. That placed it at #22,893 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Akins surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 292 in 2016. That gives Akins a modern rank of #15,022.

What does the Akins surname mean?

Derived from the medieval personal name Atkin, a diminutive of Adam, which is of Hebrew origin meaning "red earth."

What does the Akins map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Akins 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.