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Show ContentsJenkins History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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Etymology of Jenkins

What does the name Jenkins mean?

The Jenkins surname has long been associated with Wales. This surname comes from the personal names Jen, Jan, and Jon, which are all forms of the name John. The surname Jenkins also features the diminutive suffix -kin, which is commonly held to have been brought to Britain from the Netherlands as early as the 12th century, when it is found as a component of the surnames of some Flemish settlers. Generally, the Jenkin variant of this name came from the Devon-Cornwall region.

Early Origins of the Jenkins family

The surname Jenkins was first found in "South Wales and Monmouthshire, where it is very numerous. Like other Welsh names it has spread itself to the southward and eastward, though not nearly to the extent of some of the other common names of the Principality."

"The usual explanation that Jenkins is a name of Flemish type, probably introduced by the Flemings who settled in numbers in South Wales in the reign of Henry I., is to some extent supported by the fact that the great home of the name is now in South Wales and Monmouthshire. It is singular, however, that the name, usually as Jenkin, should be numerous in Cornwall. Cornwall is very Welsh with reference to some of its most frequent names, such as Roberts, Phillips, Williams, Richards, Thomas, Jenkin, Harris, James, &c., which, in the intervening counties of Devon and Somerset are usually much less numerous. This close resemblance in family nomenclature between two isolated regions that possess a similar racial history is very remarkable." 1

Early History of the Jenkins family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jenkins research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1460, 1582, 1597, 1600, 1602, 1609, 1622, 1623, 1625, 1641, 1663, 1685, 1722, 1798 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Jenkins History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jenkins Spelling Variations

There are relatively few surnames native to Wales, but they have an inordinately large number of spelling variations. Early variations of Welsh surnames can be explained by the fact that very few people in the early Middle Ages were literate. Priests and the few other literate people were responsible for recording names in official documents. And because most people could not specific how to properly record their names it was up to the individual recorder of that time to determine how a spoken name should be recorded. Variations due to the imprecise or improper recording of a name continued later in history when names originally composed in the Brythonic Celtic, language of Wales, known by natives as Cymraeg, were transliterated into English. Welsh names that were documented in English often changed dramatically since the native language of Wales, which was highly inflected, did not copy well. Occasionally, however, spelling variations were carried out according to an individual's specific design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations could be indicated by minor variations. The spelling variations of the name Jenkins have included Jenkins, Jenkin, Jankins, Jenkynn, Jenkynns, Jenkyns, Jinkines, Jinkins, Jenkens, Junkin, Junkins and many more.

Early Notables of the Jenkins family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was

  • David Jenkins (1582-1663), Welsh judge and Royalist, "the son of Jenkin Richard of Hensol, in the parish of Pendeulwyn, Glamorganshire, where he was born in 1582. He became a commoner of St. Edmund Ha...
  • Thomas Jenkins (ca. 1722-1798), was a British antiquary and minor painter who went to Rome

Jenkins World Ranking

In the United States, the name Jenkins is the 83rd most popular surname with an estimated 236,265 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Jenkins is ranked the 478th most popular surname with an estimated 10,101 people with that name. 3 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Jenkins is the 218th popular surname with an estimated 199 people with that name. 4 Australia ranks Jenkins as 119th with 22,338 people. 5 New Zealand ranks Jenkins as 106th with 3,940 people. 6 The United Kingdom ranks Jenkins as 97th with 49,487 people. 7

Migration of the Jenkins family to Ireland

Some of the Jenkins family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 66 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jenkins migration to the United States +

During the latter half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the people of Wales journeyed to North America to find a new life. They made major contributions to the arts, industry and commerce of both Canada and the United States, and added a rich cultural heritage to their newly adopted societies. A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Jenkins:

Jenkins Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John, Joan, Mary, and Thomas Jenkins, who all, who settled in Virginia in 1623
  • Sarah Jenkins, who arrived in New England in 1634 8
  • Mr. Edmond Jenkins, (b. 1620), aged 15, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Safety" arriving in Virginia in 1635 9
  • Miss Elizabeth Jenkins, (b. 1608), aged 27, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Truelove" arriving in Massachusetts Bay in 1635 10
  • Edward Jenkins, who arrived in Virginia in 1638 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Jenkins Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Ellinor Jenkins, who landed in Virginia in 1701 8
  • Dorman Jenkins, who landed in North Carolina in 1701 8
  • Jones Jenkins, who arrived in North Carolina in 1701 8
  • Jane Jenkins, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 8
  • Morris Jenkins, who arrived in Virginia in 1717 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Jenkins Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Launcelot Jenkins, who landed in America in 1802 8
  • Roger Jenkins, who arrived in Somerset County, Pennsylvania in 1802 8
  • Henry Jenkins, who arrived in Maryland in 1805 8
  • Benjamin Jenkins, aged 55, who landed in New York in 1812 8
  • Thomas Jenkins, aged 41, who arrived in New York in 1812 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Jenkins Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. James Jenkins, (b. 1851), aged 49, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Lucania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 18th August 1900 en route to Providence, Rhode Island, USA 11
  • Mr. Alfred Jenkins, (b. 1851), aged 49, Cornish gardener travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 29th April 1900 en route to New York, USA 11
  • Miss Eliza Jenkins, (b. 1864), aged 39, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 20th June 1903 en route to Ironwood, Michigan, USA 11
  • Mrs. Florina Jenkins, (b. 1879), aged 24, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 26th April 1903 en route to Houghton, Michigan, USA 11
  • Mr. Thomas Jenkins, (b. 1903), aged 2 months, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 26th April 1903 en route to Houghton, Michigan, USA 11
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Jenkins migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Jenkins Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Peter Jenkins, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1778
  • Lt. John Jenkins U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 he served in the New Jersey Volunteers 2nd Battalion 12
Jenkins Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • William Jenkins, aged 42, a tailor, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the barque "Alchymist" from Falmouth, Cornwall, England
  • Bridget Jenkins, aged 40, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the barque "Alchymist" from Falmouth, Cornwall, England
  • Philippa Jenkins, aged 14, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the barque "Alchymist" from Falmouth, Cornwall, England
  • William Jenkins, aged 12, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the barque "Alchymist" from Falmouth, Cornwall, England
  • George Jenkins, aged 50, a chordwinder, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the barque "Alchymist" from Falmouth, Cornwall, England
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Jenkins migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Jenkins Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
  • Mr. William Jenkins, (b. 1762), aged 25, English convict who was convicted in Exeter, Devon, England for 7 years for assault, transported aboard the "Charlotte" on 13th May 1787, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
Jenkins Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Elizabeth Jenkins, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Broxbournebury" in January 1814, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
  • Mr. William Jenkins, (b. 1791), aged 24, English baker who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
  • Mr. William Jenkins, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
  • Mr. Reuben Jenkins, (b. 1800), aged 19, English convict who was convicted in Somerset, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1876 17
  • Mr. Evan Jenkins, Welsh convict who was convicted in Glamorgan, Glamorganshire, Wales for 14 years, transported aboard the "Canada" on 23rd April 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 18
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Jenkins migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Jenkins Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • W Jenkins, who landed in Mana, New Zealand in 1837 aboard the ship Louisa
  • Robert Jenkins, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1839
  • Robert Jenkins, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Success" in 1839
  • John Jenkins, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Mr Jenkins, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1842 aboard the ship Lord Auckland
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Jenkins migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 19
Jenkins Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Morgan Jenkins, (b. 1603), aged 32, British settler travelling aboard the ship "Expedition" arriving in Barbados in 1636 20

Contemporary Notables of the name Jenkins (post 1700) +

  • Norma Jenkins (1942-1965), American stewardess on the Douglas DC-3 that crashed in 1965
  • Erma Pauline Jenkins (1908-1969), née Baker, American private in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, first all-female, all-African-American battalion to server overseas
  • Enis Rodney Jenkins (1944-2024), American show jumping rider and member of the United States Equestrian Team, inducted into the United States Show Jumping Hall of Fame, rode showed hunters and jumpers competitively (1960s-1980s), winning a record 70 Grand Prix-level competitions
  • Gayle Jenkins (1943-2023), Lady Jenkins, née Hunnicutt, an American film, television and stage actress who made more than 30 film appearances
  • George Washington Jenkins Jr. (1907-1996), American businessman and philanthropist who founded Publix Super Markets which now includes 1,100 stores in the Southeastern United States with 170,000 employees and sales of $32 billion
  • Bob Jenkins (1947-2021), American television and radio sports announcer who called the IndyCar and NASCAR telecasts for ESPN/ABC and later NBC Sports
  • John Jenkins (1952-2020), American martial artist and politician who served as the first African American Mayor of Lewiston, Maine from 1994 to 1998
  • Louis Burke Jenkins (1942-2019), American prose poet from Enid, Oklahoma
  • Dan Jenkins (1929-2019), American author and sportswriter who often wrote for Sports Illustrated
  • Brandon Dean Jenkins (1969-2018), American singer-songwriter and philanthropist
  • ... (Another 199 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Air New Zealand Flight 901
  • Miss Evelyn Lois Jenkins (d. 1979), New Zealander passenger, from Birkenhead, Auckland, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; she died in the crash 21
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Harold Jenkins, British Able Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 22
HMS Royal Oak
  • Thomas Sidney Jenkins (1909-1939), British Stoker 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 23
  • Eric John Arnold Jenkins (1915-1939), British Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 23
Prince of Wales colliery
  • Mr. John Jenkins (b. 1828), Welsh coal miner who was working at the Prince of Wales colliery in Abercarn, Wales on the 11th September 1878 when there was a coal mine explosion; he died 24
  • Mr. Edward Jenkins (b. 1854), Welsh coal miner who was working at the Prince of Wales Colliery in Abercarn, Wales on the 11th September 1878 when there was a coal mine explosion; he died 24
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. James Jenkins, English Fireman from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 25
  • Mr. Alfred Jenkins, Canadian 3rd Class passenger from Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 25
  • Mr. Francis Bertram Jenkins, English 1st Class Passenger residing in Chicago, Illinois, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 25
Senghenydd colliery
  • Mr. David Jenkins (b. 1896), Welsh coal miner from Cardiff, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died 26
  • Mr. Thomas Edgar Jenkins (b. 1895), Welsh coal miner from Cardiff, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died 26
  • Mr. Thomas Jenkins (b. 1901), Welsh coal miner from Senghenydd, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died 26
  • Mr. William Jenkins (b. 1892), Welsh coal miner from Cardiff, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died 26
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Robert Henry Dawson Jenkins, American Seaman Second Class from Texas, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 27
Winter Quarters coal mine
  • Mr. James J. Jenkins (b. 1856), American mine worker from Scofield, Utah who worked in the Winter Quarters coal mine on 1st May 1900, when 10 of the 25lb kegs of black powder exploded; he died in the explosion 28
  1. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  4. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  5. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  6. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  7. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  8. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  9. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved October 5th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  10. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved October 6th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  11. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  12. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  13. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/charlotte
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/broxbournebury
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
  18. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
  19. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  20. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 29th September 2021. Retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  21. Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
  22. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  23. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  24. Entombed in flood and flame (retrieved 3rd August 2021). Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20120603025705/http://www.crosskeys.me.uk/history/prince.htm
  25. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  26. Universal Colliery Senghenydd 1913 disaster retrieved 21st September 2019, retrieved from http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/deathrolls/SenghenyddDead1913.htm
  27. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
  28. Miners killed in Winter Quarters (retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from http://www.carbon-utgenweb.com/miners.html

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