NameCensus.

UK surname

Jenkins

An occupational surname referring to a person who made or supplied a type of armor called a jennet.

In the 1881 census there were 35,237 people recorded with the Jenkins surname, ranking it #89 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 48,166, ranked #102, down from #89 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Powys.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jenkins is 49,363 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.7%.

1881 census count

35,237

Ranked #89

Modern count

48,166

2016, ranked #102

Peak year

1999

49,363 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jenkins had 35,237 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #89 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 48,166 in 2016, ranked #102.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 46,139 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Jenkins surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jenkins surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jenkins 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 22,693 #92
1861 historical 23,011 #93
1881 historical 35,237 #89
1891 historical 36,974 #92
1901 historical 43,419 #93
1911 historical 46,139 #79
1997 modern 47,380 #95
1998 modern 49,045 #95
1999 modern 49,363 #95
2000 modern 48,866 #95
2001 modern 47,675 #95
2002 modern 48,671 #97
2003 modern 47,351 #97
2004 modern 47,272 #100
2005 modern 46,450 #101
2006 modern 46,622 #102
2007 modern 46,870 #102
2008 modern 47,115 #102
2009 modern 48,293 #102
2010 modern 49,155 #102
2011 modern 48,588 #102
2012 modern 47,542 #102
2013 modern 48,731 #102
2014 modern 48,959 #102
2015 modern 48,352 #103
2016 modern 48,166 #102

Geography

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Where Jenkins' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Powys. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire
5 Aberdare Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Carmarthenshire 026 Carmarthenshire
2 Carmarthenshire 027 Carmarthenshire
3 Ceredigion 011 Ceredigion
4 Powys 021 Powys
5 Carmarthenshire 025 Carmarthenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jenkins

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jenkins

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Jenkins 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

Jenkins 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

Jenkins falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Jenkins

The surname Jenkins has its origins in Wales, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Welsh personal name "Jenkin," a diminutive form of the name "John." The name Jenkin is believed to have been introduced to Britain by Flemish settlers during the Norman Conquest.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Jenkins can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Jenekyn." This suggests that the name was already in use in England by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name Jenkins began to appear in various historical records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire and the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire. These early records often spelled the name in various ways, including "Jenkyns," "Jenkyn," and "Jenkynson."

The Jenkins surname is particularly prevalent in the counties of Monmouthshire, Glamorgan, and Pembrokeshire in Wales, indicating that the name likely originated in these areas before spreading to other parts of Britain.

One notable figure with the surname Jenkins was Leoline Jenkins (1625-1685), a Welsh lawyer and diplomat who served as Secretary of State for the Northern Department under King Charles II. Another prominent Jenkins was Henry Jenkins (1501-1670), a Yorkshire man who claimed to have lived to the remarkable age of 169, making him one of the oldest men in recorded history.

In the literary world, David Jenkins (1585-1663) was a Welsh clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Scourge of Villanie" and "The Cavalier's Memoirs." Sir Geraint Jenkins (1904-1991) was a Welsh baritone opera singer who performed with the Royal Opera House and the Welsh National Opera.

During the American Civil War, Albert G. Jenkins (1830-1864) was a Confederate cavalry officer who served under General Robert E. Lee and was known for his daring raids behind Union lines.

While the surname Jenkins is found worldwide today, its roots can be traced back to the ancient Welsh name Jenkin, highlighting its rich historical and cultural significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jenkins families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jenkins 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. Glamorgan leads with 8,973 Jenkins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.97x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 8,973 14.97x
Monmouthshire 2,694 10.82x
Middlesex 2,430 0.71x
Cardiganshire 2,226 26.51x
Carmarthenshire 1,892 13.04x
Gloucestershire 1,627 2.41x
Pembrokeshire 1,594 14.57x
Surrey 1,146 0.68x
Lancashire 1,056 0.26x
Brecknockshire 875 12.71x
Kent 825 0.70x
Warwickshire 707 0.81x
Devon 701 0.98x
Herefordshire 614 4.35x
Hampshire 566 0.80x
Yorkshire 565 0.17x
Staffordshire 550 0.47x
Lanarkshire 535 0.48x
Somerset 513 0.93x
Worcestershire 435 0.97x
Cheshire 389 0.51x
Cornwall 319 0.82x
Essex 279 0.41x
Durham 275 0.27x
Sussex 261 0.45x
Wiltshire 261 0.86x
Montgomeryshire 246 3.12x
Stirlingshire 200 1.58x
Shropshire 199 0.67x
Denbighshire 190 1.46x
Derbyshire 152 0.28x
Dorset 129 0.57x
Morayshire 115 2.15x
Flintshire 114 1.23x
Berkshire 109 0.42x
Bedfordshire 101 0.57x
Hertfordshire 94 0.40x
Merionethshire 87 1.38x
Renfrewshire 79 0.30x
Northumberland 77 0.15x
Buckinghamshire 73 0.35x
Midlothian 69 0.15x
Oxfordshire 67 0.32x
Angus 64 0.20x
Aberdeenshire 63 0.20x
Northamptonshire 60 0.19x
Leicestershire 49 0.13x
Dunbartonshire 47 0.51x
Radnorshire 47 1.69x
Lincolnshire 41 0.07x
Perthshire 40 0.26x
Ayrshire 39 0.15x
Nottinghamshire 37 0.08x
Royal Navy 37 0.90x
Norfolk 34 0.06x
Caernarfonshire 33 0.24x
Cumberland 33 0.11x
Anglesey 32 0.52x
Suffolk 26 0.06x
Inverness-shire 23 0.22x
Cambridgeshire 22 0.10x
Wigtownshire 19 0.42x
Argyllshire 17 0.18x
Banffshire 17 0.24x
Channel Islands 15 0.15x
Fife 13 0.06x
West Lothian 13 0.25x
Clackmannanshire 10 0.35x
Huntingdonshire 8 0.12x
Westmorland 7 0.09x
Kirkcudbrightshire 6 0.12x
Selkirkshire 6 0.19x
Buteshire 5 0.24x
Isle of Man 5 0.08x
East Lothian 4 0.09x
Nairnshire 3 0.29x
Berwickshire 2 0.05x
Dumfriesshire 2 0.03x
Kincardineshire 1 0.02x
Ross-shire 1 0.01x
Rutland 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ystradyfodwg in Glamorgan leads with 937 Jenkins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.82x.

Place Total Index
Ystradyfodwg 937 17.82x
Merthyr Tydfil 731 12.69x
Llanelly 716 21.91x
Bedwellty 575 13.09x
Aberdare 539 13.10x
Swansea Town 485 9.87x
Llantrisant 365 24.16x
Clase 360 16.15x
Islington London 299 0.90x
Llanwonno 299 13.88x
Aberystwith 283 39.15x
Aberystruth 266 12.13x
Gelligaer 241 17.60x
Neath 234 19.19x
Cardiff St Mary 231 7.00x
Aston 226 0.95x
Eglwysilan 223 21.44x
St Pancras London 213 0.77x
Birmingham 209 0.72x
Mynyddyslwyn 209 21.29x
Trevethin 199 8.47x
Cardiff St John 193 9.86x
Portsea 192 1.39x
Camberwell 189 0.86x
Margam 189 28.27x
Michaelstone Super Avon 187 28.82x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 171 2.69x
Llantwit Vairdre 169 25.09x
Lambeth 168 0.56x
Roath 167 6.13x
Llandaff 160 8.02x
St Woollos 157 5.65x
Llanguick 149 13.87x
St Marylebone London 146 0.79x
Llanrhidian Higher 139 36.51x
Cardigan St Mary 138 42.90x
Kensington London 138 0.72x
West Dean 133 12.13x
Mile End Old Town London 131 1.79x
Hackney London 129 0.67x
Llanelly 123 14.93x
Coyty Lower 122 31.35x
Everton 119 0.91x
Aberavon 116 21.03x
Llanover 116 13.65x
Toxteth Park 114 0.82x
Bristol St George 111 3.55x
Cheltenham 108 2.07x
Llangunider 108 25.18x
Cwmdu 106 14.52x
Carmarthen St Peter 104 8.39x
Briton Ferry 103 14.40x
Cwmrheidol 102 76.13x
Bedminster 101 1.94x
Newington 101 0.79x
Barony 99 0.35x
Clifton 99 2.90x
Liverpool 99 0.40x
Llansamlet Higher 98 21.91x
Battersea 97 0.77x
Westbury On Severn East 94 6.16x
Plymouth St Andrew 92 1.67x
Stoke Damerel 92 1.83x
Govan 91 0.33x
Pembroke St Mary 91 6.46x
Shoreditch London 91 0.61x
Deptford St Paul 89 0.98x
Swansea Higher 89 14.26x
Abergavenny 88 9.44x
Oystermouth 87 18.76x
Coedfrank 86 20.71x
St John Near Swansea 86 11.60x
Tenby St Mary In 86 15.44x
West Ham 86 0.57x
Llannon 85 42.73x
Bethnal Green London 84 0.56x
Chelsea London 84 0.81x
Pembrey 84 12.59x
Upper Llanvrechva 84 21.73x
Tythegston Higher 81 44.52x
Llantwit Lower 80 15.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2,828
Elizabeth 1,687
Sarah 1,029
Margaret 880
Ann 824
Jane 757
Catherine 412
Eliza 404
Anne 382
Hannah 359
Annie 358
Martha 328
Alice 323
Ellen 313
Emma 292
Emily 278
Rachel 173
Maria 168
Louisa 163
Harriet 147
Caroline 134
Edith 134
Charlotte 131
Esther 124
Kate 121
Florence 114
Fanny 111
Ada 104
Eleanor 99
Clara 92
Susan 90
Frances 87
Lucy 86
Amelia 74
Agnes 71
Elizth. 69
Harriett 69
Margret 67
Matilda 66
Rebecca 64
Margt. 63
Sophia 62
Susannah 60
Rose 57
Lydia 53
Minnie 53
Ruth 51
Gwenllian 49
Anna 47
Jessie 46

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2,268
William 2,258
Thomas 1,611
David 1,204
George 678
James 671
Henry 530
Richard 442
Edward 407
Charles 405
Joseph 341
Evan 320
Daniel 237
Alfred 232
Arthur 213
Frederick 187
Samuel 180
Robert 171
Albert 156
Benjamin 148
Walter 147
Jenkin 126
Rees 125
Wm. 125
Lewis 119
Edwin 106
Harry 94
Morgan 94
Thos. 94
Isaac 77
Griffith 67
Francis 66
Herbert 65
Ernest 61
Frank 60
Phillip 50
Stephen 43
Philip 42
Fredk. 36
Jacob 33
Tom 33
Owen 31
Hugh 29
Jno. 29
Edgar 28
Elias 27
Fred 27
Peter 27
Josiah 26
Llewellyn 26

Top occupations

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 Jenkins households.

FAQ

Jenkins surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jenkins surname in 1881?

In 1881, 35,237 people were recorded with the Jenkins surname. That placed it at #89 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jenkins surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 48,166 in 2016. That gives Jenkins a modern rank of #102.

What does the Jenkins surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person who made or supplied a type of armor called a jennet.

What does the Jenkins map show?

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