UK surname
An English surname derived from the given name John, a diminutive form of Jenkin.
In the 1881 census there were 15 people recorded with the Jankins surname, ranking it #31,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 11, ranked #37,501, down from #31,451 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Neath and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jankins is 184 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 26.7%.
1881 census count
15
Ranked #31,451
Modern count
11
2016, ranked #37,501
Peak year
1891
184 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Jankins surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Jankins 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 | 117 | #15,456 |
| 1861 | historical | 24 | #30,922 |
| 1881 | historical | 15 | #31,451 |
| 1891 | historical | 184 | #15,869 |
| 1901 | historical | 68 | #26,598 |
| 1911 | historical | 16 | #31,804 |
| 1997 | modern | 6 | #37,704 |
| 1998 | modern | 4 | #38,082 |
| 1999 | modern | 3 | #38,318 |
| 2000 | modern | 4 | #38,004 |
| 2001 | modern | 5 | #37,652 |
| 2002 | modern | 5 | #37,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 3 | #38,241 |
| 2005 | modern | 3 | #38,312 |
| 2006 | modern | 4 | #38,130 |
| 2007 | modern | 6 | #37,837 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 6 | #37,953 |
| 2010 | modern | 7 | #37,904 |
| 2011 | modern | 9 | #37,598 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 9 | #37,653 |
| 2014 | modern | 10 | #37,567 |
| 2015 | modern | 10 | #37,563 |
| 2016 | modern | 11 | #37,501 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Neath, St Pancras, Aberystruth and Llantysilio. 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 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | Neath | Glamorganshire |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Aberystruth | Monmouthshire |
| 5 | Llantysilio | Merionethshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Jankins 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 Jankins, 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 Jankins surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Jankins 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, Jankins 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 Jankins is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Jankins, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Jankins is of English origin, derived from the personal name John combined with the diminutive suffix "-kin" or "-kin", meaning "little John". The name can be traced back to the 13th century, with early recordings including Johannes Janekyn in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1297 and William Janekyn in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1310.
The name is believed to have originated in the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, where it was initially concentrated. It spread to other parts of the country over time, with variants such as Jenkin, Jenkyn, and Jankyn appearing in various historical records.
One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded a landowner named Jenkin in Derbyshire. This suggests that the surname, or at least its root form, existed before the Norman Conquest of 1066.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Jenkyn le Brewester (1327) in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex and Johannes Jenkyns (1379) in the Poll Tax Records of Yorkshire. The latter record provides an early example of the more modern spelling of the surname.
Notable individuals with the surname Jankins include Sir Leoline Jankins (1595-1673), a Welsh lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Pembrokeshire. Another notable figure was Thomas Jankins (1633-1692), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works.
William Jankins (1770-1828) was a British painter and engraver known for his landscapes and portraits, while Robert Jankins (1813-1869) was a Welsh architect who designed several churches and public buildings in Wales during the 19th century.
In the literary world, Jane Jankins (1861-1942) was a British novelist and playwright who wrote under the pen name Violet Tweedale. Her works often depicted the lives of women in Victorian and Edwardian England.
While the name Jankins has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, due to migration and immigration patterns over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jankins 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. Denbighshire leads with 5 Jankins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 90.58x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Denbighshire | 5 | 90.58x |
| Aberdeenshire | 3 | 22.17x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 1.15x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.68x |
| Surrey | 1 | 1.41x |
| West Lothian | 1 | 45.45x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 5.24x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.69x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Llantysilio Llantynan in Denbighshire leads with 5 Jankins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 50000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Llantysilio Llantynan | 5 | 50000.00x |
| Fyvie | 3 | 1363.64x |
| West Derby | 2 | 39.45x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 10.72x |
| Great Malvern | 1 | 250.00x |
| Linlithgow | 1 | 357.14x |
| Linthorpe | 1 | 116.28x |
| St George In East London | 1 | 72.99x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Jankins 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 Jankins 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 Jankins households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Farmer 17 Acres | 2 |
| Ag Labourer | 1 |
| Corn Merchant | 1 |
| Farmers Son | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Nurse (S M S) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 15 people were recorded with the Jankins surname. That placed it at #31,451 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 11 in 2016. That gives Jankins a modern rank of #37,501.
An English surname derived from the given name John, a diminutive form of Jenkin.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Jankins 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.