Find out how popular the last name Akins is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Akins.

Akins, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Akins surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Akins in America

Akins is the 2020th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Akins surname appeared 17,868 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Akins.

We can also compare 2010 data for Akins to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Akins

The surname Akins is believed to have originated from the Old English word 'ac', meaning oak tree. It is a locational name that would have been given to someone who lived near an oak grove or forest.

The earliest known record of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as 'Acun'. This entry refers to a landholder in Buckinghamshire, England. Over time, the name evolved into various spellings such as Aken, Akin, and eventually Akins.

One notable early bearer of the name was Robert Akins, who was born around 1320 in Shropshire, England. He was a merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the local community.

Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas Akins (1570-1638), a member of the English gentry from Gloucestershire. He served as a Member of Parliament and was knighted by King James I in 1603.

In the 17th century, the name Akins began to appear in colonial America. One of the earliest recorded instances was Robert Akins, who arrived in Virginia in 1635. He later settled in Maryland and became a prosperous tobacco planter.

During the American Revolutionary War, Colonel Roger Akins (1725-1799) from Massachusetts served in the Continental Army. He was renowned for his bravery and leadership in several battles against the British.

In the 19th century, James Akins (1810-1880) was a prominent lawyer and politician from Tennessee. He served as a judge and was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1857.

The name Akins has also been associated with several place names throughout history. For example, Akenshaw in Lancashire, England, derives its name from the Old English words 'ac' and 'sceaga', meaning oak grove.

Over the centuries, the surname Akins has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including farmers, soldiers, politicians, and professionals. While its origins can be traced back to England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Akins

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Akins.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Akins was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Akins has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Akins was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Akins, please contact us.

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