2000
#5,329
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 6,017
First available Census row
Per 100,000 2.23
Rare Last name
Larkins
Derived from a diminutive of the Middle English personal name Laurence, meaning "man from Laurentum" or "bright one."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 6,974 Americans carry the last name Larkins. That puts it at #5,521 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 49,147 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Larkins surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Larkins with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
7.0K
1 in 49,147
Census rank
#5,521
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
6.1K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 6,082 bearers of the surname Larkins in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 5521st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Larkins, the largest self-reported group is White at 53.6%. The next largest groups are Black (35.8%) and Two or More Races (5.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Larkins
The surname Larkins is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "lar", meaning learning or instruction, combined with the diminutive suffix "-kin". This suggests that the name was initially given to individuals who were involved in teaching or education.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1166, where it appears as "Larekin". This historical document provides valuable insights into the taxation records of the time and serves as evidence of the name's existence during the 12th century.
As the name spread across different regions of England, variations in spelling emerged. Some examples include Larken, Larkin, and Larkyn. These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions in earlier times.
The Larkins surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was John Larkin (1601-1681), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Wigan during the 17th century. He played a significant role in the English Civil War, initially supporting the Royalist cause but later siding with the Parliamentarians.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Thomas Larkins (1720-1790), a renowned English portraitist and painter. His works can be found in various collections, including the National Portrait Gallery in London.
In the literary world, Philip Larkin (1922-1985), one of the most renowned poets of the 20th century, gained widespread acclaim for his work. His collections, such as "The Less Deceived" and "High Windows", explored themes of mortality, social observance, and the complexities of modern life.
The name Larkins has also been linked to several place names in England, including Larkins Farm in Hertfordshire and Larkins Lane in Kent. These locations may have derived their names from individuals or families bearing the Larkins surname who lived or owned property in those areas.
While the Larkins name may not be as prominent as some other English surnames, it has left an indelible mark on history, with its bearers making significant contributions across various fields, from politics and art to literature.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Larkins
Among Census respondents with the surname Larkins, the largest self-reported group is White at 53.6%. The next largest groups are Black (35.8%) and Two or More Races (5.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Larkins bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Larkins surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White53.6% · 3,259
- Black or African American35.8% · 2,180
- Two or more races5.6% · 341
- Hispanic or Latino3.7% · 225
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 53
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4% · 24
Timeline
Historical Census data for Larkins
Larkins appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#5,470
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 6,357
+340 bearers (+5.7%)
Per 100,000 2.16
Rank movement Down 141 places
2020
#5,521
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 6,082
-275 bearers (-4.3%)
Per 100,000 2.03
Rank movement Down 51 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #5,329 | 6,017 | 2.23 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #5,470 | 6,357 | 2.16 | +340 bearers (+5.7%) | Down 141 places |
| 2020 | #5,521 | 6,082 | 2.03 | -275 bearers (-4.3%) | Down 51 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Larkins surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #5,470 | #5,521 | -0.9% |
| Count | 6,357 | 6,082 | -4.3% |
| Per 100K | 2.16 | 2.03 | -5.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Larkins bearers went from 6,357 to 6,082 (-4.3% change). The surname moved down 51 positions in the national ranking, going from #5,470 to #5,521.
FAQ
Larkins surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Larkins?
Name Census estimates that about 6,974 living Americans carry the surname Larkins. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 49,147 residents.
How common is Larkins?
Larkins ranks #5,521 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 2.03 per 100,000 residents, which is about 2 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 6,082 people with the surname Larkins. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (6,974), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 2.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 2.03 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 2 of them to have the surname Larkins.
Has Larkins become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Larkins went from 6,357 recorded bearers to 6,082. That is a decrease of 275 (-4.3%). In the national ranking it fell from #5,470 to #5,521.
What does the Census say about the background of Larkins?
Among Census respondents with the surname Larkins, the largest self-reported group is White at 53.6%. The next largest groups are Black (35.8%) and Two or More Races (5.6%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Larkins in the 2020 Census, accounting for 53.6% (3,259 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Larkins appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (53.6%), Black (35.8%), Two or More Races (5.6%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Larkins (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Larkins mean?
Derived from a diminutive of the Middle English personal name Laurence, meaning "man from Laurentum" or "bright one." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Larkins (2.03 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Larkins?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.