Boykins History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ukraine

Etymology of Boykins

What does the name Boykins mean?

The surname Boykins is a nickname type surname that came from a person who was timid or fearful. The name Boykins is derived from the Slavic word bojazli, which means timid or fearful, or from the related word bojazn, which means fear or dread. 1 This name is also of local origin and is the name of Bojko mountains, which are in Western Ukraine.

It is quite likely that the Boykins surname finds its roots with the Slav tribe, the Boykians, who lived in Boikivshchyna, the uplands of Stryj and Sambir regions, in Transcarpathia, Western Ukraine. In this case, this name may have derived from Slavic term "boj" meaning "battle, struggle."

Early Origins of the Boykins family

The surname Boykins was first found in Transcarpathia, Western Ukraine. In this instance, the surname derives its origin from the Bojko, also anglicized Boyko and Boyco, mountains located in Western Ukraine. It should be noted that the surname as Bojchuk is also found in southern Poland, as the Polish region of Galicia (south Poland) was at one time a Ukrainian principality founded in the twelfth century, and after the First World War was claimed by the newly established Ukrainian Republic but was awarded to Poland.

Boykins Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Boiko, Boyko, Bayko, Beyko, Boykovich, Boikovich, Boikin, Boykin, Boykovsky, Boykints, Boychik, Boychak, Boychuck, Boycheniuk, Boychisko, Boik and many more.

Boykins Ranking

the United States, the name Boykins is the 5,888^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Boykins (post 1700) +

Dwight Anthony Boykins, American politician and former member of the Houston City Council
Amber "Holly" Boykins (b. 1969), American politician in Missouri
Vera S. Boykins, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Delegate to Michigan State Constitutional Convention from Wayne County 4th District, 1961 3
Amber Boykins, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Missouri, 2000 4
Johnny Boykins Rutledge III (b. 1977), American former professional football player

Sources +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 16) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html