UK surname
A variant spelling of the surname Atkins or Atkinson, derived from patronymics denoting "son of Adkin" or "son of Adam".
In the 1881 census there were 107 people recorded with the Alkins surname, ranking it #18,982 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 83, ranked #32,815, down from #18,982 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Kingsley, St Pancras and St Dunstan Stepney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Alkins is 908 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 22.4%.
1881 census count
107
Ranked #18,982
Modern count
83
2016, ranked #32,815
Peak year
1861
908 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Alkins surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Alkins surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 120 | #15,144 |
| 1861 | historical | 908 | #3,049 |
| 1881 | historical | 107 | #18,982 |
| 1891 | historical | 694 | #5,646 |
| 1901 | historical | 65 | #26,917 |
| 1911 | historical | 179 | #16,023 |
| 1997 | modern | 61 | #31,526 |
| 1998 | modern | 65 | #31,477 |
| 1999 | modern | 62 | #31,893 |
| 2000 | modern | 60 | #32,124 |
| 2001 | modern | 59 | #32,080 |
| 2002 | modern | 64 | #32,007 |
| 2003 | modern | 59 | #32,530 |
| 2004 | modern | 71 | #31,578 |
| 2005 | modern | 74 | #31,522 |
| 2006 | modern | 75 | #31,733 |
| 2007 | modern | 75 | #32,079 |
| 2008 | modern | 73 | #32,555 |
| 2009 | modern | 74 | #32,835 |
| 2010 | modern | 77 | #32,927 |
| 2011 | modern | 77 | #32,909 |
| 2012 | modern | 73 | #33,431 |
| 2013 | modern | 77 | #33,275 |
| 2014 | modern | 84 | #32,823 |
| 2015 | modern | 85 | #32,693 |
| 2016 | modern | 83 | #32,815 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Kingsley, St Pancras, St Dunstan Stepney, Lambeth and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kingsley | Staffordshire |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | St John Hackney | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Alkins surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Alkins, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Alkins surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Alkins household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Alkins is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Alkins is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Alkins, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname ALKINS is of English origin and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have originated in the counties of Kent and Sussex, where it was derived from the Old English words "ælc" meaning "elk" and "ing" meaning "meadow" or "enclosure." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a meadow or enclosure inhabited by elks.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name ALKINS can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex from 1202, where it appears as "Alchyng." This variation in spelling was common during that era, as standardized spellings were not yet established. The name is also found in the Feet of Fines for Kent from 1241, spelled as "Alekyn."
In the 13th century, the surname ALKINS was associated with several place names in Kent and Sussex, such as Alkham and Alkhorne. These place names likely derived from the same Old English roots as the surname and may have influenced its development.
Notable individuals bearing the ALKINS surname throughout history include:
1. John Alkins (c. 1520 – 1585), an English clergyman and author who served as a chaplain to Queen Elizabeth I. 2. Thomas Alkins (1633 – 1688), a British merchant and politician who served as Mayor of Bristol in 1679. 3. Elizabeth Alkins (1677 – 1742), an English diarist and landowner whose detailed journals provided valuable insights into the life of gentry in 18th-century England. 4. William Alkins (1768 – 1835), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and rose to the rank of Admiral. 5. George Alkins (1842 – 1918), a Scottish painter and engraver known for his landscapes and portraits of members of the British aristocracy.
The ALKINS surname has a rich history rooted in the counties of Kent and Sussex, with its origins dating back to the late 12th century. It has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including clergymen, merchants, landowners, military officers, and artists, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural and historical tapestry of England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Alkins surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Staffordshire leads with 44 Alkins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.26x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 44 | 12.26x |
| Kent | 19 | 5.24x |
| Yorkshire | 13 | 1.23x |
| Berkshire | 6 | 7.52x |
| Surrey | 6 | 1.16x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.38x |
| Shropshire | 4 | 4.35x |
| Worcestershire | 4 | 2.88x |
| Channel Islands | 2 | 6.35x |
| Derbyshire | 2 | 1.20x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.16x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.48x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.46x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.37x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bowling in Yorkshire leads with 13 Alkins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 124.64x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bowling | 13 | 124.64x |
| Kingsley | 13 | 1940.30x |
| Audley | 12 | 338.03x |
| Stone | 10 | 217.86x |
| Wrotham | 7 | 583.33x |
| Plumstead | 6 | 49.63x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 5 | 23.38x |
| Stone In Dartford | 5 | 537.63x |
| Warfield | 5 | 694.44x |
| Norbury | 4 | 2857.14x |
| West Bromwich | 4 | 19.47x |
| Droitwich St Nicholas | 3 | 588.24x |
| Newcastle Under Lyme | 3 | 47.24x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 2 | 9.98x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 2.34x |
| Aston | 1 | 1.35x |
| Bishops Waltham | 1 | 109.89x |
| Burslem | 1 | 9.73x |
| Castle Gresley | 1 | 344.83x |
| Derby St Werburgh | 1 | 10.41x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 3.82x |
| Islington London | 1 | 0.97x |
| Maidstone | 1 | 9.26x |
| Northfield | 1 | 38.02x |
| St Helier | 1 | 9.75x |
| St Lawrence | 1 | 116.28x |
| Stoke | 1 | 40.98x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 1 | 2.63x |
| Upton | 1 | 666.67x |
| Westbury On Trym | 1 | 14.16x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Alkins surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Alkins surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Alkins households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 28 |
| Annuitant | 3 |
| Coal Miner | 3 |
| Bricklayer | 2 |
| Farm Labourer | 2 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| Schoolmaster | 2 |
| Barman | 1 |
| Binder | 1 |
| Brass & Copper Roller | 1 |
| Brass & Copper Roller Wire Drawer | 1 |
| Brass & Copper Tube Drawer | 1 |
| Carpet Planner | 1 |
| Chairwoman | 1 |
| Chemist | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Clerk Insurance Office | 1 |
| Coal Dealer | 1 |
| Dom Servant | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Gen Serv | 1 |
| General Domestic | 1 |
| Goldbeater | 1 |
| Hatters Errand Boy | 1 |
| House Painter | 1 |
| Housekeeper (Dom) | 1 |
| Housewife | 1 |
| Lawyer Unemployed | 1 |
| Medical Student | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Nurse Maid | 1 |
| Paper Mill | 1 |
| Private 2 Batt 12th Regt | 1 |
| Private 2nd Surrey Militia | 1 |
| Railway Laborer | 1 |
| Seamstress | 1 |
| Shoemaker Gardener | 1 |
| Waitress (Dom) | 1 |
| Wire Drawer | 1 |
| Worseted Spinner | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 107 people were recorded with the Alkins surname. That placed it at #18,982 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 83 in 2016. That gives Alkins a modern rank of #32,815.
A variant spelling of the surname Atkins or Atkinson, derived from patronymics denoting "son of Adkin" or "son of Adam".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Alkins bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.