The Adkins surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 73,599 people carried this name — #449 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 4,010 people counted. That is up 3% from 71,528 in 2000.

See Adkins on the map Look up another surname

Share

What the name means

The meaning of the Adkins surname

A surname originating as a patronymic.

From Adkin, diminutive of Adam + the patronymic suffix -s.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Adkins» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

An early record he cites: William Adekyn, Somerset, 1327–28 (1 Edward III) — Kirby's Quest (Somerset).

His entry covers Adkin, Adkins, Adkinson, Atkin, Atkins, Atkinson, Atkyns and Adkisson.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 40 · public domain.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Adkins was found among the farmers of 11 counties.

It was most frequent in Oxfordshire: 28 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 357. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent. His list gives one count for the spellings Atkins and Adkins.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Oxfordshire 28
Northamptonshire 25
Staffordshire 22
Warwickshire 20
Leicestershire and Rutland 17
Lincolnshire 17
Nottinghamshire 12
Norfolk 11

And 3 more counties.

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In print

Adkins in American newspapers,
1918–1922.

Newspaper page from Stone County Enterprise carrying the name Adkins
Stone County Enterprise 1918-04-13
Newspaper page from Great Falls Tribune carrying the name Adkins
Great Falls Tribune 1921-01-25
Newspaper page from Bogalusa Enterprise And American carrying the name Adkins
Bogalusa Enterprise And American 1922-10-19

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 62,130 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Adkins in Australian newspapers,
1840s–1990s.

6,731 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Adkins. The most, 1,297, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Victoria, at 1.4 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 2,668
Victoria 1,844
Queensland 884
Western Australia 750
Tasmania 318
South Australia 236
ACT (Canberra) 21

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Adkins.

Who carried it

People named Adkins,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Charles Adkins
    Charles Adkins 1863–1941 · politician
  • Joseph Adkins d. 1869 · politician
  • Edith Adkins d. 1950
  • Mark Roshawn Adkins d. 2017
  • Robert Adkins 1626–1685 · civil servant
  • Abigail Adkins 1676–1735

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Adkins,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States3,186 records

3,186 records of the Adkins name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 2,321
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 655
  • Other U.S. records 210
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Forest D. Adkins

    Born 1913 in California. Enlisted 1942 at San Francisco; hospital attendant. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 2001, buried at Riverside National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Lloyd Marvin Adkins

    Born 1948; from Cleveland, Ohio. U.S. Marine Corps, rifleman; killed in action 1967 in Quang Tri, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John Adkins

    Arrived at New York in 1860 aboard the Benjamin Adams from Newfoundland, aged 55; agent. From Ireland.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 3,186 records for Adkins in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia299 records

299 records of the Adkins name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 109
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 65
  • Other Australian records 125
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record James Adkins

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Prince of Orange, sailing from England in 1822. Native of Alvechurch, Worcestershire.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Fredk Adkins

    Arrived in Victoria in 1856 aboard the Beemah, aged 4; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Alfred Adkins

    Inspector of St Kilda, Victoria; died 1915.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 299 records for Adkins in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Canada14 records

14 records of the Adkins name in Canada
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 4
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 4
  • Other Canadian records 6
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Betty Minnie Adkins

    Died 1956; buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, British Columbia.

    City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver.
  2. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record William John Adkins

    Died in service in 1916.

    Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada.
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Charles Adkins

    Married 1882 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 14 records for Adkins in Canada.

Counts: Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

New Zealand14 records

14 records of the Adkins name in New Zealand Christchurch City cemetery records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Thurza Jane Adkins

    Died 1940, aged 66; buried at Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Harry Adkins

    Died 1953, aged 72; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Frederick Adkins

    Died 1936, aged 76; buried at Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 14 records for Adkins in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands12 records

12 records of the Adkins name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 7
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 3
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 2
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Harry Adkins

    Died 1930 in 's-Gravenhage, aged 38; driver.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record John Adkins

    Married in 1734 in Rotterdam.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Harry Adkins

    In the population register of 's-Gravenhage; born in 's-Gravenhage.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 12 records for Adkins in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

United Kingdom11 records

11 records of the Adkins name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 10
  • Welsh wills index cards 1
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record James Henry Adkins

    Will proved in 1941; of Chester.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record E. Adkins

    Corporal, Machine Gun Corps. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record W. Adkins

    Leicestershire Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 11 records for Adkins in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

France5 records

5 records of the Adkins name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Jean Edmond Adkins

    Born 1908 in Paris; died 1993 in Sevran (Seine-Saint-Denis).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Jean-Louis Jacques Adkins

    Born 1949 in Paris; died 2001 in Paris.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Bernard Philippe Adkins

    Born 1958 in Le Blanc-Mesnil (Yvelines); died 1984 in Le Bourget (Seine-Saint-Denis).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 5 records for Adkins in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Other spellings of this name

The same name, spelled another way.

Spellings that H. B. Guppy (England and Wales, 1890) or the Registrar-General for Ireland (births index of 1890) counted as one name together with Adkins.

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Adkins.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Adkins is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Adkins volume
Scroll to Top