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

Jenkins, 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 Jenkins surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jenkins in America

Jenkins is the 102nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jenkins surname appeared 222,653 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 75 people would have the surname Jenkins.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jenkins 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 Jenkins

The surname Jenkins has its origins in Wales, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Welsh personal name "Jenkin," a diminutive form of the name "John." The name Jenkin is believed to have been introduced to Britain by Flemish settlers during the Norman Conquest.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Jenkins can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Jenekyn." This suggests that the name was already in use in England by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name Jenkins began to appear in various historical records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire and the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire. These early records often spelled the name in various ways, including "Jenkyns," "Jenkyn," and "Jenkynson."

The Jenkins surname is particularly prevalent in the counties of Monmouthshire, Glamorgan, and Pembrokeshire in Wales, indicating that the name likely originated in these areas before spreading to other parts of Britain.

One notable figure with the surname Jenkins was Leoline Jenkins (1625-1685), a Welsh lawyer and diplomat who served as Secretary of State for the Northern Department under King Charles II. Another prominent Jenkins was Henry Jenkins (1501-1670), a Yorkshire man who claimed to have lived to the remarkable age of 169, making him one of the oldest men in recorded history.

In the literary world, David Jenkins (1585-1663) was a Welsh clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Scourge of Villanie" and "The Cavalier's Memoirs." Sir Geraint Jenkins (1904-1991) was a Welsh baritone opera singer who performed with the Royal Opera House and the Welsh National Opera.

During the American Civil War, Albert G. Jenkins (1830-1864) was a Confederate cavalry officer who served under General Robert E. Lee and was known for his daring raids behind Union lines.

While the surname Jenkins is found worldwide today, its roots can be traced back to the ancient Welsh name Jenkin, highlighting its rich historical and cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jenkins

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

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

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

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