Contents [hide]

Akin History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Akin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The surname Akin was first used in the Scottish/English Borderlands by an ancient Scottish people called the Strathclyde-Britons. It was a name for someone who lived in Lanarkshire. The name and all it's variants are double diminutives of Adam, formed from 'Ad,' the diminutive of Adam + 'kin' 1

Early Origins of the Akin family

The surname Akin was first found in Lanarkshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Lannraig) a former county in the central Strathclyde region of Scotland, now divided into the Council Areas of North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, and the City of Glasgow, where they originated in the old barony of Akyne. Some of the first records of the name were Atkyn de Barr in 1340 2 and later in 1405, "John of Akyne, a Scottish merchant petitioned for the return of his ship and goods illegally seized in England." 1

Early History of the Akin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Akin research. Another 183 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1405, 1482, 1497, 1520, 1558, 1559, 1581, 1601, 1613, 1631, 1635, 1642, 1653, 1654, 1676, 1679, 1680, 1681, 1685, 1687, 1703, 1713, 1744, 1757, 1773, 1775, 1780, 1847 and 1854 are included under the topic Early Akin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Akin Spelling Variations

The many spelling variations in Medieval Scottish names result from the fact that scribes in that era spelled words according to sound. Translation too, was an undeveloped science, and many names were altered into complete obscurity. Over the years Akin has been spelled Aitken, Aiken, Atkin, Atkins and others.

Early Notables of the Akin family

Notable amongst the family at this time was James Aitkine, Atkins or Etkins (1613?-1687), Scottish prelate, Bishop of Moray (1676), Bishop of Galloway (1680-1687.) He was born at Kirkwall about 1613, was the son of Harie Atkine, Sheriff of Orkney. 3Arthur Aikin (1773-1854), chemist and scientific writer, was the eldest son of John Aikin, M.D., and was thus the brother of Lucy Aikin and nephew of Mrs. Barbauld. He was born at Warrington on 19 May 1773, and went at an early age to the free school there, and afterwards to Mr. Barbauld's school at Palgrave in Suffolk. 3Charles Rochemont Aikin...
Another 100 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Akin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Akin Ranking

In the United States, the name Akin is the 3,578^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Akin family to Ireland

Some of the Akin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 173 words (12 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Akin migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainties and discrimination faced in Scotland, many decided to head out for North America. Once they arrived, many Scots fought with relish in the American War of Independence; some went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Many ancestors of these Scots have recovered their lost national heritage in the 20th century through Clan organizations and Scottish historical societies. Among the settlers to North America were:

Akin Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Akin, who arrived in South Carolina in 1674 5
Mary Akin, who landed in Rhode Island in 1676 5
John Akin, who landed in New England in 1680 5

Akin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Joseph Akin, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 5
Margaret Akin, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 5
Mary Akin, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 5
Mary Akin, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 5
William Akin, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Akin migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Akin Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Andrew Akin, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Stephen Akin, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1760
Thom Akin, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1760

Akin Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Daniel Akin, who arrived in Canada in 1841

Contemporary Notables of the name Akin (post 1700) +

Harold Dwayne Akin (1945-2022), American offensive tackle football player who played professionally in the American Football League for the San Diego Chargers in 1967 and 1968
William Todd Akin (1947-2021), American politician, businessman, and U.S. Representative for Missouri's 2nd congressional district, serving from 2001 to 2013
Major-General Spencer Ball Akin (1889-1973), American Chief Signal Officer, Department of the Army (1947-1951) 6
Len Akin (1916-1987), American guard in the National Football League
Henry T. Akin (b. 1944), retired American basketball player
Susan Akin (b. 1965), Miss America 1986
Edward Akin, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Rensselaer County 2nd District, 1869 7
Daniel D. Akin, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Dutchess County, 1826, 1833 7
Charles E. Akin, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Putnam County, 1918 7
Benjamin Akin, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Dutchess County, 1800-02 7
... (Another 23 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Akin 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: Robore et vigilantia
Motto Translation: Strength and vigilance.

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. 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)
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 6) Spencer Akin. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Akin/Spencer_Ball/USA.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html