Show ContentsArkin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The story of the Arkin family stretches back through time to the Viking settlers who populated the rugged shores of Scotland in the Medieval era. The name Arkin was derived from Henry. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the diminutive Harry; it is a double diminutive of Harry in the form Har-kin.

Early Origins of the Arkin family

The surname Arkin was first found in Norfolk, where Edwinus and Roger filius Hardekin was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1175. Years later, John Hardekyn, Herkyn was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Essex in 1327. [1]

Henry Harkeley (fl. 1316), was Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1313 to 1316 and Doctor of Divinity; he taught at Oxford in the early part of the fourteenth century. [2]

Early History of the Arkin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Arkin research. Another 69 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1890 is included under the topic Early Arkin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Arkin Spelling Variations

Standards used to judge the accuracy of spellings and translations did not yet exist in the Middle Ages. Spelling variations in names dating from that era, are thus, an extremely common occurrence. Arkin has been recorded as Harkin, Harken, Harkins, Hacon, Hakon, Haken and many more.

Early Notables of the Arkin family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was

  • Harkin of Norfolk

Ireland Migration of the Arkin family to Ireland

Some of the Arkin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 83 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Arkin family

The New World was far from the oppressive regime of the old country. It was a place where there was more land than people and political and religious freedom were far easier to come by. Many Scots even got the chance to fight for their freedom in the American War of Independence. In recent years, interest in this heritage has been generated by Clan societies and regular highland games in North America. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists has revealed many people bearing the Arkin name: Daniel, James, John, Patrick, William Harkin arrived in Philadelphia from about 1800 to 1870; Andrew, Daniel, Edward, James, John, Patrick and William Harkins arrived in Philadelphia between 1830 and 1870..


Contemporary Notables of the name Arkin (post 1700) +

  • Alan Wolf Arkin (1934-2023), American actor and filmmaker, recipient of an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Tony award as well as nominations for six Emmy Awards
  • Leon Arkin, American politician, Delegate to Socialist National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1920 [3]
  • Harry Arkin (b. 1934), American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Colorado, 2004, 2008 (alternate) [3]


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 18) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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