NameCensus.

UK surname

Edkins

A surname potentially referring to someone originating from or living near a wooded location.

In the 1881 census there were 561 people recorded with the Edkins surname, ranking it #6,174 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 794, ranked #6,962, down from #6,174 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Yardley, Bidford and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stratford-on-Avon and Ceredigion.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Edkins is 833 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.5%.

1881 census count

561

Ranked #6,174

Modern count

794

2016, ranked #6,962

Peak year

2010

833 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Edkins had 561 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,174 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 794 in 2016, ranked #6,962.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 831 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Edkins surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Edkins surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Edkins 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 377 #6,334
1861 historical 406 #6,320
1881 historical 561 #6,174
1891 historical 574 #6,631
1901 historical 711 #6,206
1911 historical 831 #5,313
1997 modern 810 #6,472
1998 modern 826 #6,590
1999 modern 819 #6,671
2000 modern 809 #6,711
2001 modern 796 #6,669
2002 modern 805 #6,742
2003 modern 799 #6,659
2004 modern 796 #6,696
2005 modern 787 #6,689
2006 modern 781 #6,759
2007 modern 784 #6,805
2008 modern 796 #6,775
2009 modern 830 #6,688
2010 modern 833 #6,801
2011 modern 801 #6,944
2012 modern 813 #6,749
2013 modern 811 #6,866
2014 modern 808 #6,936
2015 modern 791 #7,000
2016 modern 794 #6,962

Geography

Back to top

Where Edkins' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Yardley, Bidford, London parishes and Welford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stratford-on-Avon and Ceredigion. 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 Yardley Warwickshire
2 Bidford Warwickshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Welford Warwickshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stratford-on-Avon 012 Stratford-on-Avon
2 Stratford-on-Avon 011 Stratford-on-Avon
3 Stratford-on-Avon 006 Stratford-on-Avon
4 Ceredigion 005 Ceredigion
5 Stratford-on-Avon 007 Stratford-on-Avon

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Edkins

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Edkins

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Edkins, 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 Edkins surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Edkins 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, Edkins 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

Edkins 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

Edkins falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Edkins is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Edkins

The surname Edkins is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "ead," meaning prosperity or fortune, and "cyning," meaning king. The name likely originated in the county of Suffolk, where it was commonly found in medieval records.

One of the earliest known references to the name Edkins can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1230, which mention a Robert Edekine. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also list a John Edekyn from Hertfordshire. These early spellings highlight the evolution of the name from its Old English roots.

The Edkins surname is believed to have initially referred to individuals who held positions of authority or were seen as leaders within their communities, reflecting the meaning of "prosperity king" or "fortunate ruler." This connection to leadership and prosperity may have contributed to the name's endurance over the centuries.

In the 14th century, the Edkins name appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire, where a William Edekyn was recorded in 1327. The surname was also found in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1381, with a reference to John Edekyn.

Notable individuals bearing the Edkins surname include:

1. Robert Edkins (1806-1867), a British Protestant Christian missionary and sinologist who worked in China. 2. Joseph Edkins (1823-1905), a British Protestant Christian missionary and scholar of Chinese language and culture, who served in China for over 50 years. 3. Walter Edkins (1888-1958), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club. 4. Sarah Edkins (born 1986), a British actress known for her roles in television shows like "Marcella" and "After Life." 5. William Edkins (1837-1918), a British engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of early aircraft and aviation technologies.

While the Edkins surname is not among the most common in England, it has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout history, reflecting its enduring legacy and connection to prosperity and leadership.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Edkins families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Edkins 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. Warwickshire leads with 269 Edkins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.53x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 269 19.53x
Worcestershire 83 11.63x
Middlesex 60 1.10x
Gloucestershire 31 2.89x
Staffordshire 30 1.63x
Surrey 21 0.79x
Lancashire 14 0.22x
Essex 9 0.83x
Leicestershire 8 1.32x
Shropshire 8 1.70x
Dorset 6 1.67x
Yorkshire 6 0.11x
Berkshire 3 0.73x
Cheshire 3 0.25x
Devon 2 0.18x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.27x
Herefordshire 1 0.45x
Kent 1 0.05x
Midlothian 1 0.14x
Somerset 1 0.11x
Sussex 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 49 Edkins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.67x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 49 10.67x
Aston 44 11.60x
Bidford 39 1322.03x
St Marylebone London 22 7.54x
Welford 21 1627.91x
Feckenham 18 220.59x
Aston Cantlow 17 825.24x
Yardley 17 93.15x
Kings Norton 16 25.01x
Marston Sicca 14 2028.99x
Haselor 13 2031.25x
Binton 11 2391.30x
St Anne Soho London 11 35.26x
Warwick St Mary 11 91.97x
Southwark St George Martyr 10 9.10x
Stratford On Avon 9 117.80x
Tanworth 9 247.25x
Temple Grafton 9 1168.83x
Alcester 8 176.21x
Bristol St Augustine 8 46.27x
North Meols 8 12.61x
West Ham 8 3.36x
St Pancras London 7 1.59x
Studley 7 118.85x
Dorchester St Peter 6 230.77x
Hackney London 6 1.96x
Newington 6 2.97x
Old Stratford 6 76.92x
Redditch 6 41.49x
Stoke Upon Trent 6 3.07x
Wootton Wawen 6 138.25x
Bridgnorth St Leonard 5 93.46x
Dudley 5 5.77x
Higham On The Hill 5 595.24x
Kingswinford 5 7.47x
Tipton 5 8.86x
Westbury On Trym 5 13.77x
Aldridge 4 112.99x
Harborne 4 6.77x
Liversedge 4 16.60x
Powick 4 80.97x
Shoreditch London 4 1.69x
Worcester St Peter 4 29.63x
Coleshill 3 67.87x
Droitwich St Peter 3 187.50x
Hugglescote 3 33.67x
Inkberrow 3 104.17x
Lambeth 3 0.63x
Pucklechurch 3 123.97x
Reading St Giles 3 7.46x
Shifnal 3 23.42x
St George Hanover Square 3 3.12x
Sutton Coldfield 3 20.72x
Wolstanton 3 5.36x
Worcester St Martin 3 31.19x
Alderminster 2 217.39x
Bulwell 2 12.49x
Chelsea London 2 1.22x
Edgbaston 2 4.68x
Great Crosby 2 11.32x
Liverpool 2 0.51x
Penkridge 2 42.02x
Runcorn 2 7.19x
Tormoham 2 4.16x
Chester St John Baptist 1 4.61x
Clifford Chambers 1 138.89x
Colinton 1 12.25x
Easenhall 1 212.77x
Enfield 1 2.79x
Grays Inn Staple Inn 1 142.86x
Hereford St John 1 39.06x
Kirkdale 1 0.92x
Norton By Kempsey 1 64.10x
Richmond 1 2.68x
Scarborough 1 2.03x
St George Martyr London 1 9.04x
Ufton 1 270.27x
Walsall Foreign 1 1.05x
Wigan 1 1.10x
Wimbledon 1 3.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 35
Sarah 29
Elizabeth 27
Ellen 13
Emma 13
Alice 11
Ann 9
Hannah 9
Jane 8
Annie 7
Martha 7
Emily 6
Harriet 6
Clara 5
Ada 4
Charlotte 4
Fanny 4
Kate 4
Amelia 3
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Florence 3
Louisa 3
Maria 3
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Bertha 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Frances 2
Harriett 2
Lucy 2
Rebecca 2
Anoine 1
Bessie 1
Carry 1
Dora 1
Eleanor 1
Elizebeth 1
Elsie 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Helen 1
Hellen 1
Isebella 1
Jessie 1
Letitia 1
Lizzie 1
Lydia 1
Thomas 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 42
John 27
George 24
Thomas 22
Henry 14
Charles 13
Edward 9
Frederick 9
Alfred 7
Arthur 7
James 7
Joseph 6
Robert 6
Samuel 6
Walter 6
Albert 5
Ernest 5
Harry 4
Clement 3
Edwin 3
Frank 3
Sidney 3
Amos 2
David 2
Edmund 2
Josiah 2
Reuben 2
Richard 2
Thos. 2
Annie 1
Aurther 1
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
Colston 1
Edenezar 1
Emmanuel 1
Evered 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.Jas. 1
Fredrick 1
Herbert 1
Jack 1
Jno. 1
Marshal 1
Mary 1
Percy 1
Rexy 1
Saml. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Edkins surname: questions and answers

How common was the Edkins surname in 1881?

In 1881, 561 people were recorded with the Edkins surname. That placed it at #6,174 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Edkins surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 794 in 2016. That gives Edkins a modern rank of #6,962.

What does the Edkins surname mean?

A surname potentially referring to someone originating from or living near a wooded location.

What does the Edkins map show?

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