Show ContentsJenkynns History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Jenkynns surname is derived from the Middle English given name Jenkin, which was in turn created from a diminutive of the name John, with the suffix "kin," added to the name. Generally, the Jenkin variant of this name came from the Devon-Cornwall region.

Early Origins of the Jenkynns family

The surname Jenkynns was first found in Sussex where Richard Janekyn was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296. Other early records of the name include Richard Jenkins, listed in the Somerset Subsidy Rolls in 1327, William Jonkyn, recorded in the "Calendar of Inquisitiones post mortem" in 1297, Alicia Jonkyn, listed in the Poll Tax of Yorkshire in 1379, well as William Jankins, recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327. 1

Early records in the parish of St. Columb, Cornwall note "Higher Trekyninge in the reign of Edward III. appears to have been in a divided state, between the Arundells and Hamleys. It was afterwards for several generations in the family of Jenkin, whose co-heiresses married St. Aubyn, Slanning, Carey, and Trelawney. It is now the property of Richard Rawe, Esq. The site on which the ancient mansion house stood, is supposed by Mr. Whitaker, from its name and concomitant circumstances, to have been the residence of an ancient Cornish king." 2

Early History of the Jenkynns family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jenkynns research. Another 173 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1565, 1584, 1598, 1601, 1602, 1607, 1613, 1656, 1672, 1675, 1676, 1677, 1678, 1680, 1681, 1685, 1689, 1727, 1731, 1739 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Jenkynns History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jenkynns Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Jenkins, Jenkin, Jankins, Jenkynn, Jenkynns, Jenkyns, Jinkines, Jinkins, Jenkens, Junkin, Junkins, Jenkings and many more.

Early Notables of the Jenkynns family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Jenkins (1598-1678), an English composer born in Maidstone, Kent, who served as a musician to the Royal and noble families and composed many pieces for strings. 3 William Jenkyn (1613-1685), was an...
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Jenkynns Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Jenkynns family to Ireland

Some of the Jenkynns family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


West Indies Jenkynns migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 4
Jenkynns Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Jenkynns, (b. 1611), aged 23, British settler travelling from London, UK arriving in St Christopher (St. Kitts) on 5th January 1634 5


The Jenkynns 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: Perge sed caute
Motto Translation: Advance but cautiously .


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  5. 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)


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