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

Boykin, 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 Boykin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Boykin in America

Boykin is the 2096th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Boykin surname appeared 17,255 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 Boykin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Boykin 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 Boykin

The surname Boykin originates from England, specifically from the region of Lancashire. It is believed to have first emerged in the late 12th or early 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "boc," meaning "beech," and the diminutive suffix "-kin," which was commonly used to form diminutive or affectionate names. Thus, Boykin likely referred to someone who lived near a small beech tree or a beech grove.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Boykin can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire from the year 1246, where it is listed as "William de Bokekyns." This suggests that the name may have originated as a descriptive surname, referring to a person's association with a particular place or geographic feature.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as "Bockyn," "Bokkyng," and "Bokkin," reflecting the fluid nature of spelling during that period. A notable example is John Bokkin, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332.

During the 16th century, the surname Boykin began to take its more modern spelling. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this spelling was Thomas Boykin, who was born in Lancashire around 1520. He was a merchant and landowner, and his family's coat of arms featured three beech trees, likely a reference to the origins of their surname.

In the 17th century, the Boykin family gained prominence in Lancashire, with several members holding positions of influence. One such individual was Robert Boykin (1612-1680), who served as a magistrate and was known for his involvement in local politics.

Another notable figure was Elizabeth Boykin (1638-1712), a Quaker minister and author. She traveled extensively throughout England and the American colonies, spreading her religious teachings and writing several influential works on Quaker beliefs.

As the British Empire expanded, the Boykin surname spread to other parts of the world. One notable example is John Boykin (1720-1801), a British colonial administrator who served as the Governor of South Carolina from 1765 to 1771.

In the 19th century, the Boykin name gained recognition in the United States through the accomplishments of individuals like Francis Boykin (1819-1898), a prominent lawyer and politician from Virginia, and Thomas Boykin (1835-1912), a Confederate Army officer during the American Civil War.

Throughout its history, the surname Boykin has been associated with various professions and walks of life, from merchants and landowners to religious leaders, administrators, and military personnel. While its origins can be traced back to a humble descriptive name in Lancashire, the Boykin name has left its mark on the histories of England, the United States, and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Boykin

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

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

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

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