NameCensus.

UK surname

Elkin

Derived from a pet form of names beginning with "El-," such as Elias, Elijah, or Ellis.

In the 1881 census there were 610 people recorded with the Elkin surname, ranking it #5,754 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,006, ranked #5,776, down from #5,754 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Prestbury and Wolstanton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, Staffordshire Moorlands and Stafford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Elkin is 1,051 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 64.9%.

1881 census count

610

Ranked #5,754

Modern count

1,006

2016, ranked #5,776

Peak year

2014

1,051 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Elkin had 610 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,754 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,006 in 2016, ranked #5,776.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 838 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Elkin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Elkin surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Elkin 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 357 #6,620
1861 historical 360 #7,095
1881 historical 610 #5,754
1891 historical 594 #6,436
1901 historical 729 #6,071
1911 historical 838 #5,279
1997 modern 852 #6,227
1998 modern 1,022 #5,579
1999 modern 1,027 #5,593
2000 modern 1,012 #5,629
2001 modern 988 #5,626
2002 modern 1,028 #5,576
2003 modern 996 #5,612
2004 modern 980 #5,690
2005 modern 958 #5,745
2006 modern 965 #5,717
2007 modern 993 #5,639
2008 modern 1,002 #5,644
2009 modern 1,026 #5,648
2010 modern 1,020 #5,788
2011 modern 992 #5,858
2012 modern 988 #5,801
2013 modern 1,015 #5,755
2014 modern 1,051 #5,618
2015 modern 1,021 #5,713
2016 modern 1,006 #5,776

Geography

Back to top

Where Elkins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Prestbury, Wolstanton, London parishes and Birmingham Town: Aston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, Staffordshire Moorlands, Stafford, Kirklees and Stockton-on-Tees. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Prestbury Cheshire
3 Wolstanton Staffordshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Birmingham Town: Aston Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 041 Wakefield
2 Staffordshire Moorlands 012 Staffordshire Moorlands
3 Stafford 004 Stafford
4 Kirklees 002 Kirklees
5 Stockton-on-Tees 014 Stockton-on-Tees

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Elkin

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Elkin

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Elkin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Elkin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Elkin is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Elkin is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Elkin falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Elkin

The surname ELKIN originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to be a diminutive form of the Old English name Elchin, meaning "elk" or "elk-kin". The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century, with references found in tax rolls and parish records from various counties in England.

One of the earliest documented examples of the ELKIN surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Berkshire, a census-like survey conducted in 1273. The record lists a William Elkyn residing in the village of Shrivenham. Another early reference is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, a tax record from 1296, which mentions a John Elkyn living in the town of Horsham.

The name ELKIN is also believed to have derived from certain place names in England, such as Elkin Green in Cheshire and Elkinton in Warwickshire. These place names likely originated from Old English words related to elk or elk hunting grounds.

In the 14th century, the ELKIN surname appeared in various legal and ecclesiastical records, including the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1326, which mentioned a Robert Elkyn. The name was also found in the Poll Tax Returns of 1379, which recorded a William Elkyn in Bedfordshire.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname ELKIN. One example is John Elkin (1644-1719), an English merchant and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Richmond in Yorkshire. Another is Richard Elkin (1719-1786), a British surveyor and cartographer known for his detailed maps of the West Indies.

In the 19th century, James Elkin (1824-1892) was a prominent Scottish architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in Glasgow, including the Glasgow Art Club and the Western Club. Additionally, William Elkin (1865-1945) was a British soldier and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Derbyshire from 1918 to 1922.

Another significant figure with the ELKIN surname was Henry Elkin (1876-1957), an American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Elkin Furniture Company in Philadelphia. He was known for his generous contributions to various educational and cultural institutions in the city.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Elkin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Elkin 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. Staffordshire leads with 234 Elkins recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.65x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 234 11.65x
Middlesex 65 1.09x
Cheshire 61 4.64x
Warwickshire 45 3.00x
Lancashire 43 0.61x
Surrey 32 1.10x
Kent 21 1.03x
Derbyshire 16 1.72x
Durham 15 0.85x
Yorkshire 15 0.25x
Hampshire 10 0.82x
Worcestershire 9 1.16x
Monmouthshire 7 1.63x
Northamptonshire 7 1.25x
Buckinghamshire 6 1.67x
Berkshire 4 0.90x
Leicestershire 4 0.61x
Sussex 4 0.40x
Dorset 3 0.77x
Essex 2 0.17x
Lanarkshire 2 0.10x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.25x
Cornwall 1 0.15x
Lincolnshire 1 0.11x
Somerset 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. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 76 Elkins recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.68x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 76 35.68x
Stone 42 163.49x
Aston 28 6.78x
Wolstanton 26 42.62x
Macclesfield 21 35.97x
Birmingham 15 3.00x
Trentham 15 87.82x
Newington 14 6.37x
Paddington London 14 6.40x
Stafford St Mary 14 49.24x
Caverswall 11 105.36x
Hackney London 10 3.00x
Escomb 9 110.70x
Kings Norton 9 12.92x
St George Hanover Square 9 8.58x
Wolstanton Oldcott 9 123.63x
Cheadle 8 82.90x
Congleton 8 35.26x
Erith 8 40.00x
Everton 8 3.56x
Glossop Dale 8 18.34x
Pendleton In Salford 8 9.51x
Aberystruth 7 18.46x
Altrincham 7 30.50x
Bishops Waltham 7 137.80x
Derby St Alkmund 7 25.07x
Lambeth 7 1.35x
Milwich 7 630.63x
Sandon 7 666.67x
Eton 6 73.53x
Gravesend 6 34.90x
Poulton Barre 6 74.72x
St Pancras London 6 1.25x
Battersea 5 2.28x
Hollingworth 5 92.25x
Kensington London 5 1.51x
Monks Coppenhall 5 10.09x
Prestwich 5 28.39x
Rawmarsh 5 24.00x
Stockton On Tees 5 5.86x
Denton 4 25.56x
Hyde 4 10.32x
Kettering 4 17.67x
Norton In Moors 4 37.63x
Acton 3 8.60x
Aldridge 3 77.72x
Brighton 3 1.48x
Hornsey 3 3.99x
Islington London 3 0.52x
Lancaster 3 7.14x
Leeds 3 0.90x
Poole St James 3 20.45x
Shoreditch London 3 1.16x
Southwark St Saviour 3 9.81x
Wakefield 3 6.63x
Wallasey 3 67.11x
Aylestone 2 38.46x
Bow London 2 2.64x
Brightside Bierlow 2 1.73x
Bulwell 2 11.47x
Camberwell 2 0.53x
Canterbury St Dunstan 2 57.14x
Dallington 2 60.79x
Deptford St Paul 2 1.28x
Fulham London 2 2.32x
Gratwich 2 1333.33x
Kirkdale 2 1.68x
Leicester St Mary 2 3.75x
Leyland 2 16.29x
Liverpool 2 0.47x
Odd Rode 2 30.72x
Reading St Mary 2 5.59x
Rowley Regis 2 3.57x
Stockport 2 2.96x
Stowe 2 266.67x
Sutton Coldfield 2 12.68x
Habergham Eaves 1 1.55x
Madron Penzance 1 4.08x
Portsea 1 0.42x
West Derby 1 0.48x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 40
Elizabeth 31
Mary 29
Ann 13
Ellen 10
Emma 10
Eliza 9
Alice 8
Hannah 8
Jane 8
Margaret 8
Emily 7
Annie 6
Fanny 5
Florence 5
Harriet 5
Maria 5
Agnes 4
Catherine 4
Clara 4
Elizth. 4
Lizzie 4
Ada 3
Blanche 3
Esther 3
Louisa 3
Rosa 3
Sophia 3
Anne 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Elizh. 2
Frances 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Matilda 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Angelina 1
Elizabth.M. 1
Ellenor 1
Emmeline 1
Isabel 1
Isabella 1
Jennie 1
Julianna 1
Larrie 1
Letitia 1
Lilian 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 36
William 36
Thomas 27
George 25
Samuel 18
James 14
Joseph 14
Henry 12
Alfred 10
Charles 8
Frederick 8
Frank 5
Thos. 5
Albert 4
Edward 4
Arthur 3
Benjamin 3
Edwin 3
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Jonathan 3
Josiah 3
Ebenezer 2
Elijah 2
Ernest 2
Leonard 2
Richard 2
Stephen 2
Walter 2
Adolphus 1
Alice 1
Amos 1
Bernhardt 1
Edgar 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Havelah 1
Jno. 1
Levi 1
Maraluai 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Miles 1
Nathaniel 1
Noah 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Elkin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Elkin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 610 people were recorded with the Elkin surname. That placed it at #5,754 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Elkin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,006 in 2016. That gives Elkin a modern rank of #5,776.

What does the Elkin surname mean?

Derived from a pet form of names beginning with "El-," such as Elias, Elijah, or Ellis.

What does the Elkin map show?

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