The Larkin surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 23,578 people carried this name — #1,521 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 12,500 people counted. That is up 2% from 23,004 in 2000.

See Larkin on the map Look up another surname

Share

What the name means

The meaning of the Larkin surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a baptismal name, from a given name: ‘the son of Lawrance’.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 469 · public domain.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 85 births for the Larkin name in 1890.

They were registered in all four provinces, most of all in Leinster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 3,800 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they were born, 1890

Leinster 34
Ulster 20
Munster 19
Connacht 12

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Larkin was found among the farmers of Kent: 24 in every 10,000.

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 Larking and Larkin.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Kent 24

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 Scotland’s registers today

Larkin was recorded 19 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 1203rd most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 21. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

70 families named Larkin, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 376 people lived in those households, 5.4 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 3 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Rhode Island 27
Massachusetts 12
North Carolina 11
Connecticut 5
Pennsylvania 4
Vermont 3
Virginia 3
New York 2
Maryland 2
New Hampshire 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 249 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Larkin in American newspapers,
1881–1905.

Newspaper page from Knoxville Daily Chronicle carrying the name Larkin
Knoxville Daily Chronicle 1882-05-25
Newspaper page from The Salt Lake Tribune carrying the name Larkin
The Salt Lake Tribune 1905-12-10
Newspaper page from The Pacific Commercial Advertiser carrying the name Larkin
The Pacific Commercial Advertiser 1881-07-23

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 161,622 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Larkin in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2000s.

50,362 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Larkin. The most, 11,202, date from the 1920s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in New South Wales, at 1.6 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 26,371
Victoria 9,117
Queensland 6,927
South Australia 3,432
Western Australia 2,513
Tasmania 1,656
ACT (Canberra) 241
Northern Territory 39

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

Who carried it

People named Larkin,
with a public archive behind them.

  • John Larkin
    John Larkin 1801–1858 · Catholic priest
  • William John Larkin d. 1885 · writer
  • Elizabeth Larkin 1535–
  • William Larkin 1580–1619 · artist
  • John Larkin 1585–1629
  • Edward Larkin 1615–1652

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 Larkin,
in the records of 8 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 States6,587 records

6,587 records of the Larkin name in the United States
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 2,212
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 1,630
  • Other U.S. records 2,745
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Martin J. Larkin

    Born 1919 in New York. Enlisted 1942 at New York City; longshoreman from Kings County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1972, buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Bridget Larkin

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Teutonic from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 19; servant. From Galway, Ireland; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record William Ronald Larkin

    Born 1949; from Hempstead, New York. U.S. Marine Corps, rifleman; killed in action 1969 in Quang Nam, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 6,587 records for Larkin in the United States.

Counts: 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, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · 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); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia1,396 records

1,396 records of the Larkin name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 669
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 238
  • Other Australian records 489
  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 Jesse Larkin

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Nile, sailing from London in 1850. Native of Cranbrook, Kent. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1854. Married 1854 in Spring Bay, Tasmania, aged 28.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. 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 Catherine Larkin

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Earl Grey, sailing from Kingston in 1849. Native of Kings. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1854. Married 1854 in Fingal, Tasmania, aged 24.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Mary Lavinia Larkin

    Born 1872 in Hobart, Tasmania. Married 1897 in Longford, Tasmania, aged 25.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,396 records for Larkin in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). 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); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Canada549 records

549 records of the Larkin name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 486
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 17
  • Other Canadian records 46
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Henry Larkin

    Came to Ontario in 1877 aboard the Moravian, bound for Kingston, Ontario; Irish.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Joseph Gerard Larkin

    Buried in 1977 at St. Mary's Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 83.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Catherine A. Larkin

    Died 1910 in Central Argyle, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

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

Showing 3 of 549 records for Larkin in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Ireland80 records

80 records of the Larkin name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Patrick Larkin

    Died 1978, aged 82; buried at Abbeygormican, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Kathleen Larkin

    Died 1972, aged 65; buried at Clontuskert, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Brendan Larkin

    Died 1997, aged 56; buried at Labane, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 80 records for Larkin in Ireland.

Counts: Galway County 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).

United Kingdom23 records

23 records of the Larkin name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 11
  • Stirling Council burial records 6
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 6
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Hugh Larkin

    Buried in 1900 at Valley Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 69.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Joseph Larkin

    Buried in 1852 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 42.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record T. Larkin

    Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1919.

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

Showing 3 of 23 records for Larkin in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand15 records

15 records of the Larkin name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 11
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 2
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Henry Ray Naylor Larkin

    Died 1982, aged 72; buried at Fairhall Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Charles Larkin

    Died 1963, aged 66; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 15 records for Larkin in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District 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).

Netherlands7 records

7 records of the Larkin name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 6
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 1
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register John Larkin

    In the population register of Heywood Lane (Gb); student, born 1915 in Heywood Lane (Gb).

    Open Archives, West Brabants Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Richard Haslett Larkin

    Married in 1945 in Loon op Zand.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 7 records for Larkin in the Netherlands.

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

France5 records

5 records of the Larkin 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 Charles Thomas Larkin

    Born 1905 in Dunkerque (Nord); died 1987 in Avignon (Vaucluse).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Andrea Lee Larkin

    Born 1939 in the United States; died 1990 in Le Chesnay (Yvelines).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 5 records for Larkin 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).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Larkin.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Larkin 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 Larkin volume
Scroll to Top