English
Jenkins
A patronymic surname that is derived from the male given name John + -kin (which forms diminutive )+ -s (denoting "son of") hence meaning "son of little John".
Formed from John + -kin
Biblical Hebrew יוֹחָנָן
…
Latin Iōannēs
Late Latin Iōhannēs
Anglo-Norman Jehan
Middle English John
English John
The story
A patronymic surname that is derived from the male given name John + -kin (which forms diminutive )+ -s (denoting "son of") hence meaning "son of little John". It was originally an offshoot of the male medieval name Jenkin/Jankin. The name was brought from the crusaders; it originated in Cornwall but became popular in England and Wales.
Today it means
name A surname originating as a patronymic of Cornish and in English ("mainly of Devon") origin.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Jenkins