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

Lykins, 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 Lykins surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lykins in America

Lykins is the 7328th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lykins surname appeared 4,552 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Lykins.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lykins 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 Lykins

The surname "Lykins" is believed to have originated in the German region of Bavaria during the 13th century. It is derived from the Old German word "lik," meaning "body." The name was likely given to someone of strong physical stature or build.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the town records of Nuremberg, where a "Hans Lykins" is mentioned as a resident in 1324. Another early reference appears in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of historical documents from the Margraviate of Brandenburg, which lists a "Friedrich Lykins" as a landowner in 1387.

In the 15th century, the name began to spread across Central Europe, with records showing variations like "Lyckins" and "Lykens" in areas of modern-day Austria and Switzerland. During this time, the surname was also associated with certain occupations, such as tanners or leather workers, due to its connection to the word "lik" (body).

One notable bearer of the name was Johann Lykins (1475-1542), a German scholar and theologian who taught at the University of Wittenberg and was a close associate of Martin Luther. He played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation.

As the name spread further, it eventually made its way to the British Isles, where it underwent further spelling changes, such as "Likens" and "Lykens." One of the earliest recorded instances in England was a "William Lykins" who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1524.

In the 17th century, the Lykins surname began appearing in colonial American records, likely brought over by German and English immigrants. One of the earliest documented individuals was Hans Lykins, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1683 as part of the German immigration to that region.

Another notable figure was John Lykins (1765-1838), an American pioneer and frontiersman who played a role in the settlement of Kentucky and Ohio. He served as a scout and guide during the Northwest Indian War.

As the name continued to evolve, variations like "Likens," "Likings," and "Lyken" emerged, reflecting the different pronunciations and spellings adopted in various regions. Despite these changes, the core surname "Lykins" has persisted, carrying with it a rich history that spans centuries and continents.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lykins

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

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

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

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