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

Elkington, 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 Elkington surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Elkington in America

Elkington is the 55386th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Elkington surname appeared 371 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 Elkington.

We can also compare 2010 data for Elkington 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 Elkington

The surname Elkington is of English origin, and it is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, specifically in the counties of Derbyshire and Staffordshire. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "Ellac" or "Eloc," which were personal names, combined with the suffix "-ing," meaning "people of" or "descendant of." Thus, Elkington likely referred to the people or descendants of someone named Ellac or Eloc.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Elkington can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Elnactone" and "Elnachetone," referring to settlements in Derbyshire and Staffordshire, respectively. These early spellings provide insight into the name's evolution over time.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it was spelled as "Elnaketon" and "Elnacton." During this period, the name was primarily concentrated in the Midlands region of England.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Elkington. One such person was William Elkington (1774-1846), a pioneering English inventor and industrial chemist who developed the electroplating process. His work laid the foundation for the modern electroplating industry.

Another prominent figure was Joseph Elkington (1766-1838), an English engineer and entrepreneur who established the Elkington & Co. firm, which specialized in the production of electroplated goods. The company's products were renowned for their quality and innovation.

In the 19th century, Edward Elkington (1808-1901), a member of the Elkington family, continued the family's legacy in the electroplating industry. He served as the managing director of Elkington & Co. and played a crucial role in expanding the business.

Additionally, Alfred Elkington (1849-1923), a British civil engineer and architect, made significant contributions to the field of railway construction. He was involved in several major railway projects in India and South Africa during the latter part of the 19th century.

Lastly, John Elkington (1940-2022) was a renowned British author, entrepreneur, and pioneer in the field of corporate social responsibility and sustainable development. He coined the term "triple bottom line," which emphasizes the importance of considering economic, environmental, and social factors in business decisions.

These examples illustrate the diverse achievements and contributions of individuals bearing the surname Elkington throughout history, spanning various fields such as industry, engineering, architecture, and sustainability.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Elkington

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

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

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

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