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Adkins History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Adkins History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England-Alt
England
Ireland

The ancestry of the name Adkins dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family lived the personal name Adam. Adkins is a diminutive which means son of Adam. 1 2 3

"There is no need of course to prove this, but it is interesting to note the following: 'Adam le Fullere,' a citizen of London, is twice referred to as Adekin le Fullere (1073, Hundred Rolls)." 4

Early Origins of the Adkins family

The surname Adkins was first found in Norfolk where the name first appeared as a forename: Adekin filius Turst, in the Pipe Rolls of 1191. Later records show John Adekyn in Crowland, Cambridgeshire in 1296; William Atkyns in the Subsidy Rolls in Worcestershire in 1327; and John Adekynes in the Subsidy Rolls for Warwickshire in 1332. 3

We find the first records of the family using the "E" prefix in Oxfordshire where Edekin Gomey was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1279. The same rolls also included an entry for Joan Edekin. Elena Edyknes was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Somerset in 1327. 3

Norfolk records show Geoffrey Adekyn there 10 Richard II (during the tenth year of Kind Richard II's reign.) 5 Again in Somerset, we found William Adekyn, 1 Edward III. 6

"Though not of early introduction it became well established in Ireland in the seventeenth century, especially in Cork where the Atkins family, who had come from Somerset, were prominent in the commercial life of the city; they also established themselves in the Youghal area." 7

"Atkins, Adkins. - A characteristic surname of the midland and eastern counties, being at present most relatively numerous in Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Lincolnshire. Its place is taken in the north of England by Atkinson. These names are regarded as diminutives of Adam." 8

Early History of the Adkins family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Adkins research. Another 133 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1191, 1296, 1379, 1558, 1559, 1564, 1581, 1587, 1601, 1610, 1615, 1621, 1626, 1630, 1635, 1647, 1662, 1665, 1669, 1670, 1674, 1677, 1680, 1681, 1685, 1686, 1689, 1698, 1703, 1709, 1711 and 1718 are included under the topic Early Adkins History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Adkins Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Adkins have been found, including Adkin, Atkin, Atkins, Adekin, Adekyns, Adekyn, Adkins and many more.

Early Notables of the Adkins family

Distinguished members of the family include

Robert Adkins (1626-1685), English ejected minister of 1662 from Chard, Somerset

Adkins Ranking

In the United States, the name Adkins is the 394^th most popular surname with an estimated 72,123 people with that name. 9

Migration of the Adkins family to Ireland

Some of the Adkins family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 78 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Adkins migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Adkins, or a variant listed above:

Adkins Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Niccodcmus Adkins, who landed in Virginia in 1635 10
Richard Adkins, who arrived in Virginia in 1641 10
Tho Adkins, who arrived in Virginia in 1643 10
Robert Adkins, who landed in Virginia in 1649 10
Henry Adkins, who landed in Virginia in 1650 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Adkins Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Joseph Adkins, who arrived in New England in 1728 10
Joseph Adkins, who landed in Connecticut in 1739 10
David Adkins, aged 22, who arrived in Carolina in 1774 10

Adkins Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Dr. Adkins, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 10

Adkins Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Sarato Isabella Adkins, aged 44, who immigrated to the United States from London, England, in 1904
James S. Adkins, aged 32, who settled in America from Birmingham, in 1905
Sidney Adkins, aged 34, who landed in America from Dublin, Ireland, in 1910
Robert Adkins, aged 25, who settled in America from Birmingham, England, in 1912
Frank Adkins, aged 28, who immigrated to the United States from Birmingham, England, in 1913
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Adkins migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Adkins Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William Adkins, English convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Asiatic" on 5th June 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
James Adkins, a shipwright, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
Thomas Adkins, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Royal George" in 1848 12
Joseph Adkins, English convict from from Lincoln, who was transported aboard the "Adelaide" on April 16, 1855, settling in Western Australia 13

Contemporary Notables of the name Adkins (post 1700) +

Adele Laurie Blue Adkins M.B.E. (b. 1988), better known as Adele, eight-time Grammy Award winning English recording artist and songwriter from Tottenham
Bennie Gene Adkins (1934-2020), United States Army soldier and recipient of the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Vietnam War; he died from COVID-19
Rutherford H. "Lubby" Adkins (1924-1998), American World War II pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American to earn a PhD from The Catholic University in Washington D.C
Terry Roger Adkins (1953-2014), American artist and professor
Tracy Darrell "Trace" Adkins (b. 1962), American country music artist and actor
Patrick H. Adkins (b. 1948), American fantasy author and editor
Margene Adkins (b. 1947), former American college football, National Football League, and Canadian Football League player
Jonathan Scott Adkins (b. 1977), American Major League Baseball area scout for the Boston Red Sox
Major General James A. Adkins, American Major General, 28th Adjutant General of Maryland
Dr. Homer Burton Adkins Ph.D. (1892-1949), American chemist who developed the Adkins-Peterson reaction with Wesley J. Peterson
... (Another 59 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Adkins family +

Fraterville mine

Mr. George W. Adkins (d. 1902), American coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died 14
Mr. Conda Adkins (d. 1902), American coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died 14
Mr. Paul A. Adkins (d. 1902), American coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died 14
Mr. Charles Adkins (d. 1902), American coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died 14

HMS Cornwall

Edward Alfred Adkins (d. 1942), British Leading Cook (S) aboard the HMS Cornwall when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 15

HMS Repulse

Mr. Francis James Adkins, British Leading Writer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 16

The Adkins Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Vincit cum legibus arma
Motto Translation: He wins over violence with laws

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Dixon, Bernard Homer, Surnames. London: John Wilson and son, 1857. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ROYAL GEORGE 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848RoyalGeorge.htm
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 17) Adelaide voyage to Western Australia, Australia in 1855 with 261 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/adelaide/1855
News paper article Fraterville Mine Disaster retrieved on 6th August 2021. (Retrieved from http://www.tn.gov/tsla/exhibits/disasters/fraterville.htm).
Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html