Show ContentsArkin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Arkin is an anglicized form of the Patronymic Irish surname "O hEarcain," which is derived from the word "earc," meaning "red." Thus, the surname would have originally been born by a "descendant of Red."

Early Origins of the Arkin family

The surname Arkin was first found in at Inishowen, in County Donegal where members of the family were erenaghs of Clonska, a parish near Malin Head. They are mentioned as such in Bishop Montgomery's diocesan survey of 1606. Danieal O'Harcan died in 1581 as a Catholic martyr in Ulster.

Early History of the Arkin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Arkin research. Another 21 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1659, 1780, 1814 and 1830 are included under the topic Early Arkin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Arkin Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Harkin, Harkan, O'Harkin, ÓhEarcáin and others.

Early Notables of the Arkin family

More information is included under the topic Early Arkin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Arkin family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Hugh Harkin, who landed in New York in 1811; Ann Harkin, who settled in St. John, New Brunswick in 1833; Andrew Harkin, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1835.


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 1
  • Harry Arkin (b. 1934), American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Colorado, 2004, 2008 (alternate) 1


  1. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 18) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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