Show ContentsHunkins History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Hunkins family

The surname Hunkins was first found in Cornwall where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of South Kimber. Cornwall was a land set apart, a land of mystique and quaint customs, more strongly related to Brittany and Wales than to England. It was not until the 10th century that they submitted to the Saxon rule of England. Since then, their influence has moved east into Devon, Somerset and Dorset.

Early History of the Hunkins family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hunkins research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hunkins History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hunkins Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Hunkin, Hunkins, Hunkens, Unkins, Hunkyn, Hunkyns and others.

Early Notables of the Hunkins family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

  • the Hunkins family of Devon


United States Hunkins migration to the United States +

An examination into the immigration and passenger lists has discovered a number of people bearing the name Hunkins:

Hunkins Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Kate Hunkins, aged 20, who immigrated to the United States, in 1892
  • J. Hunkins, aged 22, who landed in America, in 1896
  • Mrs. J. Hunkins, aged 21, who immigrated to the United States, in 1896
Hunkins Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Charles Hunkins, aged 34, who immigrated to America, in 1903
  • Master Clarence Hunkins, aged 5, who immigrated to America, in 1904
  • Mrs. Dana Hunkins, aged 40, who landed in America, in 1904
  • Dana Hunkins, aged 42, who immigrated to the United States, in 1908
  • Charles Herman Hunkins, aged 41, who landed in America, in 1911
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Hunkins (post 1700) +

  • Raymond Breedlove "Ray" Hunkins (b. 1939), American attorney, rancher, former law enforcement officer
  • Ray Hunkins, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Wyoming, 2004 [1]


  1. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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