UK surname
Son of Arkyn, a diminutive form of the Old English name Erchenwin.
In the 1881 census there were 11 people recorded with the Arkinson surname, ranking it #32,081 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 26, ranked #36,254, down from #32,081 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lancaster Borough, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and Leeds. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Arkinson is 397 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 136.4%.
1881 census count
11
Ranked #32,081
Modern count
26
2016, ranked #36,254
Peak year
1891
397 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Arkinson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Arkinson surname density by area, 1891 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 | 59 | #22,756 |
| 1861 | historical | 291 | #8,653 |
| 1881 | historical | 11 | #32,081 |
| 1891 | historical | 397 | #8,927 |
| 1901 | historical | 38 | #29,914 |
| 1911 | historical | 56 | #27,216 |
| 1997 | modern | 56 | #32,004 |
| 1998 | modern | 40 | #33,856 |
| 1999 | modern | 51 | #32,940 |
| 2000 | modern | 32 | #34,705 |
| 2001 | modern | 31 | #34,648 |
| 2002 | modern | 29 | #35,030 |
| 2003 | modern | 25 | #35,471 |
| 2004 | modern | 24 | #35,697 |
| 2005 | modern | 24 | #35,827 |
| 2006 | modern | 22 | #36,105 |
| 2007 | modern | 28 | #35,801 |
| 2008 | modern | 26 | #36,012 |
| 2009 | modern | 28 | #35,988 |
| 2010 | modern | 31 | #35,906 |
| 2011 | modern | 25 | #36,252 |
| 2012 | modern | 23 | #36,366 |
| 2013 | modern | 25 | #36,276 |
| 2014 | modern | 27 | #36,180 |
| 2015 | modern | 26 | #36,228 |
| 2016 | modern | 26 | #36,254 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lancaster Borough, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Leeds, Manchester and Dalton-in-Furness. 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 | Lancaster Borough | Lancashire |
| 2 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 3 | Leeds | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Dalton-in-Furness | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Arkinson 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 Arkinson, 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 Arkinson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Arkinson 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, Arkinson 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 Arkinson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Arkinson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname ARKINSON is an English surname that originated in the northern counties of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire. The name is believed to have derived from a combination of the Old English words "arn" meaning "eagle" and "tun" meaning "settlement" or "enclosure." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near an area inhabited by eagles or an area known for its eagle population.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname ARKINSON can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the 13th century, where it appears as "Arnkyntone." This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the surname over time. Additionally, the surname is mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire from 1332, where it is recorded as "Arinkynsone."
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the ARKINSON family seemed to have been concentrated in the northern counties of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire. Notable individuals from this period include John ARKINSON (1546-1616), a merchant and landowner from York, and William ARKINSON (1612-1676), a clergyman and author from Lancashire.
In the 18th century, the surname ARKINSON gained prominence in other parts of England as well. One notable figure was Thomas ARKINSON (1744-1828), a renowned architect from Durham who designed several notable buildings in the city, including the County Hospital and the Old Shire Hall.
The 19th century saw the spread of the ARKINSON surname across the British Empire. One prominent individual from this period was Sir Henry James ARKINSON (1819-1892), a British colonial administrator who served as the Governor of Sierra Leone and later as the Governor of British Honduras (now Belize).
Another notable figure was Edward Arkinson (1836-1912), a British botanist and explorer who conducted extensive research on the flora of the Pacific Islands and authored several books on the subject.
It is worth noting that the ARKINSON surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Arkinholme in Lancashire and Arkengarthdale in Yorkshire, further reinforcing its deep roots in the northern counties.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Arkinson 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. Lancashire leads with 5 Arkinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.93x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 5 | 3.93x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 11.09x |
| Durham | 1 | 3.13x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.93x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.94x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ashton Under Lyne in Lancashire leads with 5 Arkinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 179.86x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Ashton Under Lyne | 5 | 179.86x |
| Birmingham | 3 | 33.30x |
| Crook Billy Row | 1 | 243.90x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 37.88x |
| Horton In Bradford | 1 | 60.24x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Arkinson 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 Arkinson 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 Arkinson households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Bricklayers Labourer | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Cotton Reeler | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Pen Grinder | 1 |
| Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Worsted Weaver | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 11 people were recorded with the Arkinson surname. That placed it at #32,081 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 26 in 2016. That gives Arkinson a modern rank of #36,254.
Son of Arkyn, a diminutive form of the Old English name Erchenwin.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Arkinson 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.