Felkins last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Felkins

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "people from the open fields".

Felkins, 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 Felkins surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Felkins in America

Felkins is the 31211th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Felkins surname appeared 743 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 Felkins.

We can also compare 2010 data for Felkins 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 31211 26987 14.52%
Count 743 845 -12.85%
Proportion per 100k 0.25 0.31 -21.43%

The history of the last name Felkins

The surname Felkins is of English origin, with its earliest documented use dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have evolved from the Old English word "felcian," meaning "to strike" or "to attack." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a person who engaged in combat or held a military role.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where it appears as "Felkyn." This spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surnames during that era, as standardized spellings had not yet been established.

The name is also associated with several place names, particularly in the West Midlands region of England. For example, the village of Felkins in Herefordshire may have contributed to the surname's development. Additionally, the hamlet of Felkins in Worcestershire shares a similar name, further reinforcing the regional ties of the surname.

Notable individuals bearing the Felkins surname include John Felkins (1597-1677), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for Coventry during the English Civil War era. Another prominent figure was William Felkins (1713-1789), a renowned clockmaker from Clerkenwell, London, whose timepieces were highly sought after by the nobility and gentry of the time.

In the literary realm, the name appears in the writings of Thomas Deloney, a 16th-century English novelist and balladeer. His work "The Gentle Craft" (1597) features a character named Felkins, suggesting the surname's recognition during the Elizabethan era.

Shifting to the 18th century, Samuel Felkins (1723-1804) was a notable English engraver and cartographer, known for his intricate maps and illustrations. His work adorned various publications, including "The Gentleman's Magazine" and "The Universal Magazine of Knowledge and Pleasure."

During the Victorian era, James Felkins (1841-1913) gained recognition as a prominent architect in Birmingham, England. His designs included several notable buildings in the city, such as the Birmingham Central Library and the Birmingham and Midland Institute.

Throughout history, the surname Felkins has maintained its presence, although it remains relatively uncommon compared to more widespread English surnames. Its origins and evolution reflect the rich tapestry of English heritage, intertwined with regional influences and noteworthy individuals who have carried the name forward.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Felkins

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

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 Felkins was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 91.92% 683
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 2.02% 15
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 2.42% 18
Hispanic Origin 3.10% 23

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 Felkins has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 91.92% 95.50% -3.82%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 2.02% 1.66% 19.57%
Two or More Races 2.42% 1.18% 68.89%
Hispanic 3.10% 1.30% 81.82%

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

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

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"Felkins last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/felkins-surname-popularity/.

"Felkins last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/felkins-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Felkins last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/felkins-surname-popularity/.

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