NameCensus.

UK surname

Harkin

An occupational surname for someone who worked as a servant or messenger.

In the 1881 census there were 307 people recorded with the Harkin surname, ranking it #9,568 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,899, ranked #3,347, up from #9,568 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Batley and Wakefield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Craigneuk Wishaw, Liverpool and Helensburgh East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Harkin is 1,953 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 518.6%.

1881 census count

307

Ranked #9,568

Modern count

1,899

2016, ranked #3,347

Peak year

2014

1,953 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Harkin had 307 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,568 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,899 in 2016, ranked #3,347.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 423 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Harkin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Harkin surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Harkin 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 256 #8,629
1861 historical 423 #6,073
1881 historical 307 #9,568
1891 historical 367 #9,486
1901 historical 356 #10,305
1911 historical 231 #13,636
1997 modern 1,693 #3,526
1998 modern 1,765 #3,516
1999 modern 1,758 #3,553
2000 modern 1,727 #3,592
2001 modern 1,711 #3,555
2002 modern 1,789 #3,480
2003 modern 1,791 #3,405
2004 modern 1,772 #3,443
2005 modern 1,769 #3,422
2006 modern 1,789 #3,392
2007 modern 1,828 #3,356
2008 modern 1,846 #3,355
2009 modern 1,893 #3,355
2010 modern 1,940 #3,359
2011 modern 1,920 #3,348
2012 modern 1,912 #3,311
2013 modern 1,926 #3,338
2014 modern 1,953 #3,320
2015 modern 1,912 #3,345
2016 modern 1,899 #3,347

Geography

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Where Harkins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Batley, Wakefield, Greenock and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Craigneuk Wishaw, Liverpool, Helensburgh East, Wakefield and Lancaster. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Craigneuk Wishaw North Lanarkshire
2 Liverpool 022 Liverpool
3 Helensburgh East Argyll and Bute
4 Wakefield 020 Wakefield
5 Lancaster 016 Lancaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Harkin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Harkin

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Harkin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Harkin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Harkin is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Harkin is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Harkin falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Harkin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Harkin

The surname Harkin is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name "Arachán." This name is believed to have originated in the 10th or 11th century and was likely a diminutive form of the name "Arascach," meaning "having abundant possessions."

The earliest recorded references to the name Harkin can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. These annals mention several individuals bearing the name, including Maolsheachlainn Ó hAracháin, who was slain in battle in 1138.

During the Middle Ages, the name Harkin was most prevalent in the northern counties of Ireland, particularly in the regions of Ulster and Connacht. It was associated with several prominent Irish clans and families, such as the Ó hAracháin and Ó Nialláin septs.

One notable bearer of the name was Muircheartach Ó hAracháin (c. 1340-1418), a renowned Irish poet and scholar who was a member of the esteemed bardic family of Sil Muiredhaigh. His works, which included religious and historical poems, were highly regarded in his time.

In the 16th century, the name Harkin appeared in various forms, such as Harakyn, Haraccan, and Harakin, due to the lack of standardized spelling at the time. One example is Piers Harakyn, who was mentioned in the Fiants of Elizabeth I, a collection of royal letters and decrees issued during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I in the late 16th century.

Another notable individual with the surname Harkin was Patrick Harkin (c. 1590-1653), a Catholic priest and theologian who played a significant role in the Irish Confederate Wars of the 1640s. He served as a chaplain in the Confederate forces and was involved in diplomatic efforts to secure support from continental Europe.

In the 18th century, the name Harkin continued to be found in various parts of Ireland, particularly in counties like Donegal, Sligo, and Mayo. One prominent figure from this period was John Harkin (1725-1789), a wealthy landowner and merchant from County Donegal who was actively involved in local politics and community affairs.

As the centuries progressed, the surname Harkin spread beyond Ireland due to emigration and the Irish diaspora. Individuals bearing this name can be found in various parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and Great Britain.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Harkin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Harkin 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. Lancashire leads with 62 Harkins recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.74x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 62 1.74x
Lanarkshire 43 4.44x
Durham 32 3.59x
Midlothian 24 5.98x
Yorkshire 22 0.74x
Northumberland 19 4.26x
Stirlingshire 15 13.58x
Hampshire 13 2.12x
Renfrewshire 12 5.17x
Cornwall 9 2.65x
Cheshire 7 1.06x
Dunbartonshire 7 8.70x
Cumberland 6 2.33x
Middlesex 5 0.17x
West Lothian 5 11.09x
Dumfriesshire 4 6.05x
Aberdeenshire 3 1.08x
Roxburghshire 3 5.53x
Selkirkshire 3 11.07x
Argyllshire 2 2.40x
Staffordshire 2 0.20x
Derbyshire 1 0.21x
Devon 1 0.16x
Fife 1 0.56x
Herefordshire 1 0.81x
Inverness-shire 1 1.12x
Kent 1 0.10x
Lincolnshire 1 0.21x
Surrey 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 18 Harkins recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.34x.

Place Total Index
Barony 18 7.34x
Stockton On Tees 15 34.92x
Blackburn 13 13.75x
Glasgow 13 7.56x
Liverpool 13 6.02x
West Calder 12 151.71x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 11 28.50x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 10 92.76x
Falkirk 10 38.67x
Wakefield 10 43.90x
Wigan 10 20.14x
Antony 9 275.23x
Inveresk 7 64.46x
Manchester 7 4.38x
Old Kilpatrick 7 73.61x
Portsmouth 7 49.54x
Togstone 7 2916.67x
Millom 6 75.95x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 6 22.55x
Denny 5 85.18x
Govan 5 2.09x
Lower Booths 5 78.49x
Middle Greenock 5 78.99x
Portsea 5 4.16x
Closeburn 4 259.74x
Edinburgh Canongate 4 39.18x
Great Bolton 4 8.50x
Horton 4 181.82x
Newbottle 4 82.14x
Toxteth Park 4 3.32x
Aberdeen Old Machar 3 5.18x
Bathgate 3 30.64x
Melrose 3 43.99x
Old Monkland 3 7.81x
West Greenock 3 7.20x
Congleton 2 17.51x
Gateshead 2 3.00x
Islington London 2 0.69x
Paisley Middle Church 2 14.80x
St Pancras London 2 0.83x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 1.87x
West Derby 2 1.92x
Anderston 1 384.62x
Berwick Upon Tweed 1 10.59x
Cambusnethan 1 4.65x
Campbeltown 1 9.94x
Caterham 1 15.50x
Cheetham 1 3.77x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 1.77x
Clifton In York 1 16.10x
Dunoon Kilmun 1 15.38x
East Greenock 1 4.56x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.62x
Everton 1 0.88x
Forgan 1 29.41x
Hamilton 1 3.70x
Hereford All Sts 1 17.76x
Hexham 1 14.49x
Holy Trinity 1 1.40x
Hound 1 23.98x
Hythe St Leonard 1 27.70x
Kelso 1 18.48x
Kirkliston 1 38.02x
Marton In Prestbury 1 312.50x
Melrose 1 21.32x
Monks Coppenhall 1 4.01x
North Uist 1 28.65x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.08x
Port Glasgow 1 8.91x
Radcliffe 1 5.84x
Shettleston 1 11.53x
St Martin In Fields 1 5.58x
Stamford St John 1 153.85x
Stanton By Dale 1 156.25x
Stockport 1 2.94x
Tranmere 1 4.12x
Uphall 1 20.16x
Wilton 1 16.81x
Yeardsley Cum Whaley 1 76.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Sarah 6
Ann 5
Catherine 5
Eliza 4
Ellen 4
Bridget 3
Elizabeth 3
Hannah 3
Jane 3
Margaret 3
Alice 2
Jean 2
Julia 2
Rose 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Annetta 1
Caroline 1
Cath. 1
Catharine 1
Charlotte 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.Crossley 1
Honor 1
Kathleen 1
Louise 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Marrion 1
Martha 1
Martin 1
Matilda 1
Minnie 1
Sabina 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 20
James 14
William 6
Peter 5
Edward 4
Joseph 4
Michael 4
Thomas 4
Charles 3
Patrick 3
Philip 3
Francis 2
Henry 2
Richard 2
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Bernard 1
David 1
Dennis 1
Jas. 1
Jas.Henry 1
Malakia 1
Paterick 1
Percy 1
Quin 1
Ralph 1
Tom 1
W. 1
Wabrick 1

FAQ

Harkin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Harkin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 307 people were recorded with the Harkin surname. That placed it at #9,568 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Harkin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,899 in 2016. That gives Harkin a modern rank of #3,347.

What does the Harkin surname mean?

An occupational surname for someone who worked as a servant or messenger.

What does the Harkin map show?

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