Surname Jenkin - Meaning and Origin

Jenkin: What does the surname Jenkin mean?

The last name Jenkin is a variant of the English surname Jenkins, which has multiple theories regarding its possible origin. The most likely origin is that it derived from the Welsh personal name ‘Jenkin’, a diminutive form of ‘John’. It could have also developed from various other French and Germanic personal names that were introduced into England after the Norman Conquest of 1066, such as ‘Gonnet’, ‘Gant’, or ‘Gennekin’.

It is possible that the original spelling of Jenkins was “Jenkin” at some point, and vice versa. Other variations of the name include ‘Jenkinson’, ‘Jenkyn’, ‘Jenkinson’, and ‘Jenkings’. In its early form, it was likely most commonly found in the North West of England and South West Wales.

The name has a proud history dating back hundreds of years. It was used by many distinguished families and is even seen in literature, with Robert Browning’s poem ‘The Lost Leader’ being written about a leader named Jenkin. It was also the name of the diarist Paul Jenkins, who published Two Years in the French Foreign Legion written in 1967, which detailed his service in the French Foreign Legion in Algeria.

In more recent times, the last name Jenkin has remained a common one in the English-speaking world. It is the family name of American actress Jenna Elfman, English actor Aidan Turner, English footballer Tom Jenkins and Australian filmmaker Andrew Jenkin, among many others.

Jenkin: Where does the name Jenkin come from?

The surname Jenkin is thought to be of Welsh origin and is commonly found in Wales, parts of England, and certain regions in Scotland. The name is also very common in certain Commonwealth nations, such as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

In the United States, the last name Jenkin is most commonly found in the states of California, Texas, Florida, and New York. It is estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau that there are at least 5,079 people who bear the Jenkin name in the U.S. This number has seen an increase of 39% over the 12-year period between 2000 and 2012.

In England, the name is especially common in the city of Hereford. In Wales, it is particularly common in the northwest part of the country, particularly in Anglesey and Gwynedd.

Research conducted by genealogy and surname websites indicates that the last name Jenkin is tops in the U.K. countries of Wales, England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, as well as countries such as South Africa, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

The name is also popular throughout western Europe, particularly in France, Spain, Italy, and Germany. It is a relatively uncommon name in many eastern European countries, such as Poland, Russia, and the Czech Republic.

Variations of the surname Jenkin

The surname Jenkin is an English patronymic surname from the medieval or Old English given name Jenkyn. It is also sometimes written as Jenkin, Jenkyn, or Jenkyns.

Variations of the surname include Jenkens, Jenckins, Jenckin, Jenkynne, Jenkyne, Jenkines, Jenkinson, Jenkison, Jenkinsohn, Gjenkin, and Jenkins.

The meaning of the given name Jenkyn is uncertain. It is speculated to have derived from either the Old English nickname Jenca meaning “bold” or “stalwart”, or the personal name Jenca, which itself was derived from the Old English elements “geong” meaning “young” and “ca” meaning “bold”.

Although varied spellings exist, all spellings of the surname Jenkin are ultimately derived from one of the three source names: Jenkyn, Jenca, or Jenca.

The surname Jenkin first entered recorded history in the 12th century with the first recording of a Jenkyn being found in Derbyshire in 1225, and is still a popular surname today, especially in the United Kingdom, United States, or Canada.

In the United States, the surname is ranked as the 13,495th most common surname. It is especially common in the states of Tennessee, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

Famous people with the name Jenkin

• Colin Jenkin: British Conservative Politician
• Edith Jenkins: American Gospel and Blues Singer
• James Jenkin: Australian Artist
• Jeffrey Jenkin: South African Surgeon
• Robert Jenkin: Canadian Businessman
• Deborah Jenkins: American Author
• Darlene Jenkin: Television and Radio Producer
• John Jenkin: British Architect
• Susan Jenkins: British Actress
• Andrew Jenkin: New Zealand Film and Television Director
• Alice Jenkin: Irish Poet
• Lauren Jenkin: Australian Gastroenterologist
• Carl Jenkins: English Composer
• Emma Jenkin: Canadian Model
• William Jenkin: Writer and Actor
• George Jenkin: Painter and Ceramicist
• Mieke Jenkin: Dutch Television Producer
• Fylandia Jenkin: British Actress
• Hilda Jenkin: English Educator
• Frederick Jenkin: British Warrant Officer

Other surnames

JenkinsJenkinson