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

Boykins, 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 Boykins surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Boykins in America

Boykins is the 8073rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Boykins surname appeared 4,105 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Boykins.

We can also compare 2010 data for Boykins 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 Boykins

The surname Boykins originated in England during the late medieval period, likely derived from the Old English word "boc," meaning a beech tree, combined with a diminutive suffix "-kin." This suggests that the name initially referred to someone who lived near or was associated with a small beech tree or grove.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hertfordshire parish records from 1543, where a John Boykyns is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time. Other historical documents, such as the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1562, reference a William Boykins, further solidifying the name's presence in England during the 16th century.

The Boykins surname also has connections to various place names across England. For instance, the village of Boykin in Buckinghamshire may have influenced the surname's development. Similarly, the hamlet of Boykins in Oxfordshire could have contributed to the name's widespread use in that region.

Historically notable individuals bearing the Boykins surname include Sir John Boykins (1586-1648), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Colchester during the reign of King Charles I. Another prominent figure was Thomas Boykins (1621-1694), a renowned English botanist and horticulturist who made significant contributions to the study of plant life.

In the arts, the name is associated with Elizabeth Boykins (1640-1709), a celebrated English playwright and poet whose works were highly regarded during the Restoration period. Additionally, William Boykins (1712-1782) was a respected English architect known for his intricate designs and innovative use of materials.

Across the Atlantic, the name also found its way to the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded instances in the New World is that of Richard Boykins (1657-1723), an English settler who established a successful plantation in Virginia and played a role in the colony's governance.

Overall, the surname Boykins has a rich history rooted in England, with connections to various regions, place names, and notable individuals throughout the centuries. Its evolution reflects the cultural and linguistic changes that have shaped the English language and society over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Boykins

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!