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

Askin, 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 Askin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Askin in America

Askin is the 21686th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Askin surname appeared 1,201 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Askin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Askin 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 Askin

The surname Askin has its origins in the Scottish Gaelic language, derived from the personal name Aschoilinn, which translates to "scholar" or "disciple." It is believed to have first emerged in the western Scottish Highlands and the Hebrides islands during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the ancient Ragman Rolls, a collection of medieval homage rolls from the late 13th century. The rolls contain the name Ascalyn de Ergaithel, a Scottish nobleman who swore fealty to King Edward I of England in 1296.

In the 15th century, the surname began to appear in various Scottish records and charters, often associated with the regions of Argyll and Bute. One notable figure from this era was Donald Askin, a prominent landowner and chieftain who lived in the late 1400s and was known for his involvement in clan disputes.

The name also has connections to the Outer Hebrides islands, specifically the Isle of Lewis. Historical records from the 16th century mention an Andro Askin, a seafarer and merchant from Lewis who traded goods between the islands and the Scottish mainland.

As the centuries progressed, variations in spelling emerged, including Asken, Askyn, and Askine, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal variations common in historical documents. One notable individual was Sir James Askine, a Scottish nobleman born in 1670, who served as a member of the Privy Council under King William III.

In the 18th century, the surname gained recognition through the work of John Askin, a Scottish-born fur trader and merchant who established a prominent trading post in present-day Ontario, Canada. He played a significant role in the development of the fur trade and the British presence in the region.

As the name spread beyond Scotland, it continued to be associated with notable individuals. One such figure was Thomas Askin, an English-born playwright and actor who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, renowned for his comedic plays and performances on the London stage.

Other notable individuals with the surname Askin include the American artist and illustrator John Askin (1886-1948), known for his work in pulp magazines and science fiction illustrations, and the Scottish-born Canadian politician and judge Armon Henry Askin (1884-1968), who served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons and later as a judge in Ontario.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Askin

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

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 Askin 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 Askin 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 Askin was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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