UK surname
An occupational surname derived from the Old English word "fylcian" meaning to join battle or fight.
In the 1881 census there were 107 people recorded with the Filkin surname, ranking it #18,982 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 57, ranked #34,511, down from #18,982 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Kings Norton and Tettenhall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Filkin is 124 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 46.7%.
1881 census count
107
Ranked #18,982
Modern count
57
2016, ranked #34,511
Peak year
1911
124 bearers
Map years
3
1881 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Filkin surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Filkin 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 | 55 | #23,413 |
| 1861 | historical | 60 | #26,313 |
| 1881 | historical | 107 | #18,982 |
| 1891 | historical | 110 | #22,557 |
| 1901 | historical | 94 | #23,588 |
| 1911 | historical | 124 | #20,023 |
| 1997 | modern | 68 | #30,810 |
| 1998 | modern | 96 | #28,188 |
| 1999 | modern | 92 | #28,833 |
| 2000 | modern | 83 | #29,809 |
| 2001 | modern | 82 | #29,714 |
| 2002 | modern | 78 | #30,601 |
| 2003 | modern | 79 | #30,549 |
| 2004 | modern | 71 | #31,578 |
| 2005 | modern | 66 | #32,303 |
| 2006 | modern | 64 | #32,839 |
| 2007 | modern | 65 | #33,045 |
| 2008 | modern | 61 | #33,655 |
| 2009 | modern | 59 | #34,072 |
| 2010 | modern | 62 | #34,069 |
| 2011 | modern | 62 | #34,045 |
| 2012 | modern | 55 | #34,565 |
| 2013 | modern | 57 | #34,538 |
| 2014 | modern | 58 | #34,500 |
| 2015 | modern | 57 | #34,519 |
| 2016 | modern | 57 | #34,511 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Kings Norton, Tettenhall, Manchester and Tring. 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 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Kings Norton | Worcestershire |
| 3 | Tettenhall | Staffordshire |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Tring | Hertfordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Filkin 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 Filkin, 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 Filkin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Filkin 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, Filkin 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 Filkin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Filkin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Filkin is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the early medieval period. It is believed to be a locational surname, derived from a place name that no longer exists or has undergone significant changes over time.
One theory suggests that the name Filkin is a diminutive form of the Old English word "fill," meaning a small hill or ridge. This indicates that the surname may have originated from a location characterized by a distinctive topographical feature, such as a small hill or elevated land.
Another possibility is that the name Filkin is derived from the Old English personal name "Filica," which itself is a diminutive form of the name "Fil." This personal name may have been given to someone with a distinctive physical characteristic or personality trait.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname Filkin can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable reference is in the Feet of Fines for Essex, dated 1285, which mentions a John Filkin.
In the 16th century, the surname appears in the Subsidy Rolls for Wiltshire in 1576, where a Robert Filkin is listed as a taxpayer. This record provides evidence of the name's presence in different regions of England during this period.
Among the notable individuals who bore the surname Filkin throughout history are:
1. William Filkin (c. 1550 - 1620), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Andover in 1597. 2. John Filkin (c. 1580 - 1647), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the rector of St. Margaret's Church in Canterbury. 3. Elizabeth Filkin (1640 - 1712), an English Quaker minister and writer known for her religious works and advocacy for women's rights. 4. Thomas Filkin (1725 - 1796), a British soldier who served in the American Revolutionary War and was captured by the Continental Army at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777. 5. Henry Filkin (1810 - 1888), a British architect and civil engineer who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Holborn Viaduct and the Coal Exchange.
While the surname Filkin may have originated from a specific location or personal name, its precise origins remain somewhat obscure. However, its presence in historical records and the accomplishments of individuals bearing this surname contribute to the rich tapestry of English nomenclature and cultural heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Filkin 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 30 Filkins recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.52x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 30 | 8.52x |
| Warwickshire | 15 | 5.70x |
| Lancashire | 12 | 0.97x |
| Middlesex | 10 | 0.96x |
| Surrey | 10 | 1.97x |
| Cheshire | 9 | 3.91x |
| Essex | 7 | 3.40x |
| Kent | 4 | 1.12x |
| Hertfordshire | 3 | 4.17x |
| Shropshire | 3 | 3.33x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 1.59x |
| Flintshire | 1 | 3.57x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.64x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.10x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 15 Filkins recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.70x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Aston | 15 | 20.70x |
| Tettenhall | 15 | 697.67x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 10 | 26.77x |
| Battersea | 9 | 23.44x |
| Runcorn | 7 | 131.83x |
| West Ham | 7 | 15.39x |
| St George Hanover Square | 6 | 32.63x |
| Toxteth Park | 6 | 14.31x |
| Gillingham | 4 | 54.50x |
| Albrighton | 3 | 681.82x |
| Tring | 3 | 156.25x |
| Everton | 2 | 5.07x |
| Mavesyn Ridware | 2 | 1176.47x |
| Paddington London | 2 | 5.21x |
| Caverswall | 1 | 54.64x |
| Clapham | 1 | 7.66x |
| Dutton | 1 | 625.00x |
| Great Little Marsden | 1 | 17.64x |
| Greenford | 1 | 526.32x |
| Hanmer Halghton | 1 | 666.67x |
| Leeds | 1 | 1.71x |
| Litherland | 1 | 38.61x |
| Newton In Makerfield | 1 | 26.39x |
| Preston On Hill | 1 | 500.00x |
| St Anne Soho London | 1 | 16.78x |
| Stone | 1 | 22.17x |
| Tynemouth | 1 | 12.03x |
| West Derby | 1 | 2.76x |
| Weston Turville | 1 | 344.83x |
| Whittington | 1 | 138.89x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Filkin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 7 |
| Elizabeth | 4 |
| Ann | 2 |
| Caroline | 2 |
| Eliza | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Florence | 2 |
| Harriet | 2 |
| Rose | 2 |
| Sarah | 2 |
| Sophia | 2 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Beatris | 1 |
| Bertha | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Derinda | 1 |
| Dora | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Helen | 1 |
| Imogene | 1 |
| Jane | 1 |
| Lilian | 1 |
| Lillia | 1 |
| Lizzie | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Margret | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Nancie | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Filkin 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 Filkin households.
FAQ
In 1881, 107 people were recorded with the Filkin surname. That placed it at #18,982 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 57 in 2016. That gives Filkin a modern rank of #34,511.
An occupational surname derived from the Old English word "fylcian" meaning to join battle or fight.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Filkin 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.