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Adkins Family History & Genealogy

26,165 biographies and 61 photos with the Adkins last name. Discover the family history, nationality, origin and common names of Adkins family members.

Adkins Last Name History & Origin

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History

To understand the evolution of a surname to it's earliest origins, one must understand that even in the earliest days of a name, there have been different spellings of that name simply because surnames were infrequently written down, as few people could write. Accents and other dialectal issues heavily influenced how many variations of any surname there were due to the fact that many people were illiterate and did not know how their own name was spelled. This meant that the officials often had to guess at the spelling after hearing the person speak their name, leading to the numerous variations we see today.
Following the crusades in Europe in the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries, a need was felt for a family name to replace the one given to a child at birth. This was only recognized by those of noble blood, as it granted them added prestige and a practical advantage to their status. The earliest records of the name mentions a gentleman named Adekin who had no surname. This was recorded in 1191 in County Norfolk. The next recorded version of it is in Canterbury in the year 1279, being that of a John Adekyn. Another John, John Adekynes was documented in County Surrey in the year 1332.
All throughout history, there are recordings of this surname having moved around to different countries, which makes it hard to pinpoint a specific varitation to a certain time period.
The first recorded Adkins in the Colonies is disputed due to a discrepancy in dates. One was that of Niccodcmus Adkins, who traveled from Northumberland to Virginia in 1635. The other is Sir John Adkins of Chard.
Evidence has been found that suggests that most of the Adkins people that came to the Colonies from England are direct descendants of Sir John Adkins of Chard, Somerset, England. Sir John Adkins was a descendant of William Adekyn of County Somersetshire, born in 1327 and deceased in 1377. Sir John Adkins was a well-known merchant, engaging in commerce with the Colonies. He emigrated from Bristol, England which was in close proximity to Chard, England. In his will, dated the 16th of July, 1636, Sir John refers to his grandson, son of John Adkins II, who was born in the Colonies between 1615 and 1636. He also names his wife Katherine, his eldest son Edward, his 2 other sons Francis and William, and his sister Sarah Sellwood. He also named his daughters, Katherine Wells, Hannah Ford and Elizabeth Smith. It is believed that Sir John Adkins came to the Colonies prior to February of 1623 because of personal letters that have been found addressed to him by his wife. Several other "Johns" emigrated to Virginia but these were around the middle of the seventeenth century, several years after Sir John of Chard's will was made and probated in 1636, hence the discrepancy as to who arrived first.
Today, the variations of the surname aren't as popular as they used to be, with Adkins being the most popular, Atkins following in second. There are many notables in history of this surname, some suggesting that Adekyn is a name of noble blood, of which Sir John Adkins of Chard was a direct descendant of, that most American Adkins are believed to also be descendants of. Regardless of nobility, there are also several historical documents refering to servents of Kings that share the Adkins surname.
 

Name Origin

The surname "Adkins" is found to be Anglo-Saxon in origin, traced back to the early 1200's in England and later becoming a popular surname in Scotland in the mid 1400's. Adkins literally means "Son of little Adam." The Adkins surname derives from "Ade" - a nickname of sorts of the Hebrew-given name Adam, meaning "red earth" (it is thought that this refers to the earth of which God formed the first man in the Old Testament) plus the Olde English pre 7th century diminutive suffix "-kin". The "d" of "Ade" was changed to "t" in certain areas due to dialectal influences and perhaps illiteracy, and the final "s" indicated the genitive, being reduced from "son of."
The numerous variations of the surname Adkins are a result of census takers, clergy and other officials writing down the names of people who were illiterate and did not know how their own names were written, so the official would use his best judgement after listening to the person speak their name. When you realize what variations and acute accents people had in different parts of the country in those days, one can understand why so many variations arose.
Sources:
Credit given to Tim Boddington, webmaster of the site www.adkins-family.org.uk who has a fascinating and impressive collection of information regarding the Adkins surname. 
Credit should also be given to the Surname Database, to be found at www.surnamedb.com.  

Spellings & Pronunciations

We don't have any alternate spellings or pronunciation information on the Adkins name. Have information to share?

Nationality & Ethnicity

The country of origin for this surname is without a shadow of a doubt from England. It has been traced back to as early as the Bronze Age. The earliest evidence of any variation of Adkins is from 1191, where one Adekins was noted in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk. A John Adekyns appears in the records for the Record of the Estates of Crowland Abbey in Cambridgeshire, dated 1296. Other variations in the patronymic development since 1327 has included John Adekynes from Warwickshire, Willelmus Adkynson in the Poll Tax Returns of Howdenshire in 1379 and Johannes Attekyson in Yorkshire in 1379. In October of 1657, George Adkins III (Son of George and Susanna Adkins) was christened at a church in London. A Robert Adkins (as noted in the Dictionary of National Biography) was chaplain to Lord Cromwell.
The first recorded spelling of the family name was that of Sir William Atkyns, dated 1327 in the "Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire" during the reign of King Edward II. Surnames became required when governments introduced personal taxation which was known in England as Poll Tax.
According to several historical references, the earliest American Adkins genealogy is traced back to Niccodcmus Adkins who landed in Virginia (from Northumberland) in 1635. Some other settlers who share this surname (or variants thereof) include Sir Jonathon Adkins, who was Governor of Barbados and arrived in 1663, a Thomas Adkins who settled in East Hartford in 1682 and a Henry Atkins who settled in Plymouth in 1641.

Famous People named Adkins

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Early Adkinses

These are the earliest records we have of the Adkins family.

Marjory Mildred Curran Adkins
Marjory Mildred Curran (Adkins) Nash was born on February 7, 1829, and had a sister Ary Adeline Adkins. Marjory Mildred Nash died at age 94 years old in 1923 at Jonesboro, Craighead, AR in Jonesboro, Arkansas United States, and was buried at City Cemetery E Matthews Ave, in Jonesboro, Craighead County. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Marjory Mildred Curran Adkins.
Jimmy Adkins was born on April 2, 1830, and died at age 99 years old in October 1929. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Jimmy Adkins.
William Henry Adkins of Brunswick Australia was born in 1835, and died at age 73 years old in 1908 in Brunswick.
James M Adkins
James M Adkins was born in 1838. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember James M Adkins.
James Adkins of Australia was born in 1839, and died at age 34 years old in 1873.
Joseph Adkins of Prahran Australia was born in 1841, and died at age 46 years old in 1887 in Prahran.
Alfred Adkins of St Kilda Australia was born in 1843, and died at age 72 years old in 1915 in St Kilda.
Ary Adaline Adkins
Ary Adaline Adkins was born on September 29, 1843. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Ary Adaline Adkins.
Mary Killingworth Killingworth (Adkins) Adkins of Richmond Australia was born in March 1852 in Olney, Buckinghamshire County United Kingdom. Mary Killingworth Adkins was married to Alfred Adams, and has a child Gertrude Lily Adams. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Mary Killingworth Adkins Adams.
Henry Vincent  Adkins
Henry Vincent Adkins was born on July 28, 1857. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Henry Vincent Adkins.
Gilbert  Adkins
Gilbert Adkins was born on July 11, 1860. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Gilbert Adkins.
Mattie Adkins of Missouri was born on October 27, 1864, and died at age 98 years old in March 1963.

Adkins Family Photos

Discover Adkins family photos shared by the community. These photos contain people and places related to the Adkins last name.

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Adkins Family Tree

Discover the most common names, oldest records and life expectancy of people with the last name Adkins.

Most Common First Names

Updated Adkins Biographies

Lloyd D Adkins
Lloyd D Adkins of Freedom, Owen County, IN was born on March 7, 1933 in Pikeville, Pike County, Kentucky United States, and died at age 68 years old on April 19, 2001 in Freedom, Owen County, IN.
Barbara (Adkins) Shelton was born on August 31, 1955 in Pikeville, Kentucky United States to Lloyd D Adkins and Alta mae Adkins, and has siblings Donna sue Gordon and Linda Stone. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Barbara Gail Shelton .
Alta Adkins was married to Lloyd D Adkins in Pikeville, Pike County, Kentucky United States, and has children Barbara Gail Shelton, Donna sue Gordon, and Linda Stone. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Alta mae Adkins.
John Adkins was born on March 23, 1921 in Middletown, Comté de Butler County, OH États-Unis, and died on February 22, 1922. John Adkins was buried at Middleton cemetery ohio. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember John Adkins.
Luella Adkins was born on April 1, 1943, and died at age 39 years old in January 1983. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Luella Adkins.
Amanda Kristine (Floyd) Adkins was born on August 30, 1987 at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, California United States. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Amanda Kristine (Floyd) Adkins.
Gary D Adkins of Manhattan, Riley County, KS was born on February 22, 1953 to Thomas Fransis Adkins and Ann Louise Masiion Adkins. He had a sister wanda sue rose. He married Janice Kay Adkins on November 7, 1970, and had a child Jennifer Dnnett Ainsworth. Gary Adkins died at age 42 years old on July 31, 1995.
Janice Kay Adkins of Manhattan, Kansas United States was born on May 9, 1951 in Clarksville, TN. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Janice Kay Adkins.
Wanda Sue (Adkins) Rose was born on June 10. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember wanda sue rose.
Mathias Adkins of West Virginia was born on August 23, 1898, and died at age 78 years old in February 1977.
Robyn Gwyn Minnette
Robyn Gwyn (Adkins) Minnette was born on October 13, 1967 in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana United States. Robyn Minnette got married to Craig Andrew Minnette in 1994 in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, and has a child Dylan Christopher Minnette. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Robyn Gwyn Minnette.
Desiree Ann Adkins was born on December 28, 2004. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Desiree adkins.
Lanny R Adkins of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, UT was born on August 18, 1946, and died at age 64 years old on March 24, 2011.
Claiburn Adkins
Claiburn Adkins was born on June 19, 1917. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Claiburn Adkins.
George Adkins of Moriah, Essex County, NY was born on February 29, 1912, and died at age 73 years old in September 1985.
Bennie Gene Adkins
Vietnam War Medal of Honor Recipient. He received this award from President Barack Obama at the White House September 15, 2014 for his actions during the period of March 9 – 12, 1966 as an Intelligence Sergeant with Detachment A-102, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces at Camp A Shau, Republic of Vietnam. He first entered the military in 1956 and retired from the Army as a Command Sergeant Major in 1978. He lived in Opelika, Alabama and passed away at the age of 86. His Medal of Honor citation reads: “Sergeant First Class Bennie G. Adkins distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an Intelligence Sergeant with Detachment A-102, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces, during combat operations against an armed enemy at Camp A Shau, Republic of Vietnam from March 9 to 12, 1966. When the camp was attacked by a large North Vietnamese and Viet Cong force in the early morning hours, Sergeant First Class Adkins rushed through intense enemy fire and manned a mortar position continually adjusting fire for the camp, despite incurring wounds as the mortar pit received several direct hits from enemy mortars. Upon learning that several soldiers were wounded near the center of camp, he temporarily turned the mortar over to another soldier, ran through exploding mortar rounds and dragged several comrades to safety. As the hostile fire subsided, Sergeant First Class Adkins exposed himself to sporadic sniper fire while carrying his wounded comrades to the camp dispensary. When Sergeant First Class Adkins and his group of defenders came under heavy small arms fire from members of the Civilian Irregular Defense Group that had defected to fight with the North Vietnamese, he maneuvered outside the camp to evacuate a seriously wounded American and draw fire all the while successfully covering the rescue. When a resupply air drop landed outside of the camp perimeter, Sergeant First Class Adkins, again, moved outside of the camp walls to retrieve the much needed supplies. During the early morning hours of March 10, 1966 enemy forces launched their main attack and within two hours, Sergeant First Class Adkins was the only man firing a mortar weapon. When all mortar rounds were expended, Sergeant First Class Adkins began placing effective recoilless rifle fire upon enemy positions. Despite receiving additional wounds from enemy rounds exploding on his position, Sergeant First Class Adkins fought off intense waves of attacking Viet Cong. Sergeant First Class Adkins eliminated numerous insurgents with small arms fire after withdrawing to a communications bunker with several soldiers. Running extremely low on ammunition, he returned to the mortar pit, gathered vital ammunition and ran through intense fire back to the bunker. After being ordered to evacuate the camp, Sergeant First Class Adkins and a small group of soldiers destroyed all signal equipment and classified documents, dug their way out of the rear of the bunker and fought their way out of the camp. While carrying a wounded soldier to the extraction point he learned that the last helicopter had already departed. Sergeant First Class Adkins led the group while evading the enemy until they were rescued by helicopter on March 12, 1966. During the thirty-eight-hour battle and forty-eight hours of escape and evasion, fighting with mortars, machine guns, recoilless rifles, small arms, and hand grenades, it was estimated that Sergeant First Class Adkins killed between one hundred thirty five and one hundred seventy five of the enemy while sustaining eighteen different wounds to his body. Sergeant First Class Adkins' extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Detachment A-102, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces and the United States Army.”
Marlene Marie (Ivinson) Adkins of Cumberland City, Stewart County, Tennessee was born on August 18, 1938 in Cumberland City, and died at age 46 years old in November 1984 in Nashville, Davidson County. Marlene Adkins was buried in 1985 at Dickson, Tn..
Thomas Fransis Adkins of Buffalo, New York United States. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Thomas Fransis Adkins.
Ann Louise Adkins of Clarksville, Tennessee United States was born on March 2, 1934 in Clarksville, and died at age 72 years old in August 2006.
Sherri Lee-Ann (Kuyl) Adkins of Elysian, Minnesota United States was born on December 22, 1979 in Long Branch, NJ. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Sherri Adkins.

Popular Adkins Biographies

Ethel A Bennett
Ethel A (Adkins) Bennett of Hill City, Graham County, KS was born on March 9, 1902, and died at age 95 years old on December 14, 1997.
Janice Adkins
Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Janice Adkins.
Douglas Adkins Sr of louisville, jefferson County, Kentucky us was born on June 22, 1931 at home in Sandy hook, Perry County, and died at age 55 years old in March 1987. Douglas Adkins was buried at Zachary Taylor National CemeterySection H Site A Brownsboro Road, in Louisville.
Martha Gene (Adkins) Wolfenbarger
Martha Gene (Adkins) Wolfenbarger was born on January 30 in Morgan, Kentucky United States, and died on January 23, 1936. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Martha Gene (Adkins) Wolfenbarger.
Marjory Mildred Curran Adkins
Marjory Mildred Curran (Adkins) Nash was born on February 7, 1829, and had a sister Ary Adeline Adkins. Marjory Mildred Nash died at age 94 years old in 1923 at Jonesboro, Craighead, AR in Jonesboro, Arkansas United States, and was buried at City Cemetery E Matthews Ave, in Jonesboro, Craighead County. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Marjory Mildred Curran Adkins.
Emma Jean (Adkins) Vealey
Emma Jean (Adkins) Vealey of Brook Park, Cuyahoga County, Ohio was born on September 25, 1937 in Portsmouth, Scioto County, and died at age 74 years old in 2011.
Edith (Nason) Adkins was born on August 15, 1913 in Glendale, Los Angeles County, California United States, and died at age 85 years old in 1998 in Sacramento, Sacramento County. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Edith (Nason) Adkins.
John Adkins was born on March 23, 1921 in Middletown, Comté de Butler County, OH États-Unis, and died on February 22, 1922. John Adkins was buried at Middleton cemetery ohio. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember John Adkins.
Claiburn Adkins
Claiburn Adkins was born on June 19, 1917. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Claiburn Adkins.
Lissa A. Adkins was born to Mary Edna (Barnes-Barry) Porterfield and James Harold Porterfield, and has siblings James Barry Porterfield and Harry Curtis Porterfield. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Lissa A. Adkins.
Gary D Adkins of Manhattan, Riley County, KS was born on February 22, 1953 to Thomas Fransis Adkins and Ann Louise Masiion Adkins. He had a sister wanda sue rose. He married Janice Kay Adkins on November 7, 1970, and had a child Jennifer Dnnett Ainsworth. Gary Adkins died at age 42 years old on July 31, 1995.
Birtha Lucille Adkins
Birtha Lucille (Reeves) Adkins of Lewiston, Nez Perce County, Idaho was born on August 22, 1933 in Nevada, Vernon County, Missouri United States, and had a sister Etta Runyan. She was married to Ralph T. Adkins, and had children Harold Gean Adkins, Cindy (Adkins), and Ralph Michael Adkins. Birtha Adkins died at age 75 years old on May 15, 2009.
Eliza J Adkins
Eliza J Adkins was born on September 18, 1894. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Eliza J Adkins.
Betty Lou Shanholtz Adkins
Betty Lou Shanholtz Adkins of Hamlin, Lincoln County, West Virginia United States was born on October 24, 1943. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Betty Lou Shanholtz Adkins.
Donald Ray Adkins
Donald Ray Adkins of 95 Cherry Street, in New Hamlin, Lincoln County, West Virginia USA was born on July 19, 1940 at Adkins Home in Yolyn, Logan County. Donald was baptized in Huntington, Cabell County. Donald Adkins died at age 61 years old on August 6, 2001 at St. Mary's Medical Center 2900 1st Avenue, in Huntington, and was buried circa August 9, 2001.
Alex Adkins was born on May 19, 1905. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Alex Adkins.
Laura (Adkins) Newports was born on March 9, 1888 in Scott County, Tennessee United States, and died at age 37 years old on December 30, 1925 in Oneida. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Laura Adkins Newport.
Albert Ben Adkins
Albert Ben Adkins was born on August 23, 1911. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Albert Ben Adkins.
Eric Taylor Adkins was born to Charles Thomas Adkins. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Eric Taylor Adkins.
Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Jennifer Lowe Adkins.

Adkins Death Records & Life Expectancy

The average age of a Adkins family member is 70.0 years old according to our database of 23,042 people with the last name Adkins that have a birth and death date listed.

Life Expectancy

70.0 years

Oldest Adkinses

These are the longest-lived members of the Adkins family on AncientFaces.

Effie L Adkins of El Paso, El Paso County, Texas was born on February 21, 1906, and died at age 105 years old on June 27, 2011.
105 years
Comer Adkins of Oakland, Alameda County, California was born on December 22, 1881, and died at age 104 years old in January 1986.
104 years
Mary E Adkins of Wilmington, New Castle County, DE was born on October 22, 1894, and died at age 104 years old on February 20, 1999.
104 years
Noah C Adkins of Salem, Polk County, OR was born on September 14, 1901, and died at age 104 years old on February 7, 2006.
104 years
Mattie L Adkins of Dyersburg, Dyer County, TN was born on November 10, 1889, and died at age 104 years old on June 28, 1994.
104 years
Milem T Adkins of Sikeston, Scott County, MO was born on July 20, 1898, and died at age 104 years old on April 24, 2003.
104 years
Alma V Adkins of Baltimore, Baltimore City County, MD was born on July 27, 1904, and died at age 104 years old on October 25, 2008.
104 years
Hazel L Adkins of Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County, NY was born on June 14, 1894, and died at age 104 years old on December 11, 1998.
104 years
Ida W Adkins of Lesage, Cabell County, WV was born on August 12, 1897, and died at age 104 years old on October 15, 2001.
104 years
Clyde S Adkins of Fairborn, Greene County, Ohio was born on August 9, 1907, and died at age 103 years old on February 5, 2011.
103 years
Emma T Adkins was born on March 25, 1889, and died at age 103 years old on April 24, 1992. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Emma T Adkins.
103 years
Pearl Adkins of Prichard, Wayne County, WV was born on February 2, 1891, and died at age 103 years old on May 18, 1994.
103 years
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I(Linda Adkins Lear) was told my my grandmother, Ella Fairchild Adkins to give it up and not try. That set me off on a very unsucessful quest. We have 2 family mysteries.1 How did Lenville Adkins really die?(1916-1947)Lenville and my father, Larry, along with twin brothers John and Jim moved from Morgan Co., Ky to the Fairfield(now Middletown-)area of Ohio. It seens that 2 towns were merged in the 1950s and the name changed! Lenville and Ella were expecting their 4th child, when in May of 1947, he was found in the local river. 2. stories emerged 1.He drowned and was robbed in concert with a card game???2. the one my Dad was told... he drowned trying to save someone's pet??? My Dad had overheard that his clothes were found folded under a tree...a 3rd possibility? I can find no obituary in my grandmother's things, no obit in the Morgan Co. paper(it seems that a large # of people from Morgan County migrated to this area during WW2 and the local paper carried regular obits from Ohio) Ella, late in life told a daughter in law of a red headed woman that she saw while shopping.."That woman's husband killed Lenville" Lenville had a 1/2 sister Lorene P McClain (1920-1991)I never met her. Iwas not old enough to adk his mother Rissie McClain Adkins about it.He is buried in Caskey Cemetery in morgan co., Ky. The 2nd mystery is who is Lenville's family. Who were his grandparents? Millard Adkins (1888-1916)died in lenox, Morgan Co., after a railroad tunnel had a rock slide. Noone knows who his family was. Again rissie died before I was old enough to ask. Linda contact me @[contact link]

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