Surname Likins - Meaning and Origin

Likins: What does the surname Likins mean?

The surname Likins does not have a commonly recognized meaning like certain last names do. It is likely of English origin reflecting a patronymic naming tradition, meaning it may have originally derived from a father's name, for instance, ‘Son of Lykin’, similar to how 'Johnson' means 'son of John'.

However, the meaning perspective may vary by individual family histories and lineage. Surname meanings often get lost over time due to changes in language and culture. Also, it’s common for families to adapt, alter, or completely change their surnames due to immigration or other significant events.

Historically, people were known by only one name until populations grew to the point where it became necessary to adopt a second name to distinguish between individuals with the same first name. The second name could be based on individual's occupations, geographic locations, personal characteristics or based on a parent’s name as in patronymic surnames. Thus, without specific historical context on the branch of the Likins family in question, an accurate meaning of the surname cannot be determined.

Likins: Where does the name Likins come from?

The surname Likins is of English origin and is essentially a variant of Lykins. This surname has roots dating back to the medieval period in England. It is derived from an English personal name, Llykin, which is a diminutive of the Welsh name Llywellyn. Llywellyn is made up of the elements "llyw," meaning "leader," and "eilyn," meaning "likeness."

Though it has English roots, the name Likins is not particularly common today in England. The spread of the name may be out of England due to historical emigration. There may be a greater number of individuals with the surname Likins in the United States. However, please note that statistics may vary and the presence of the surname in a certain area doesn't necessarily reflect the prevalence or concentration of individuals with the Likins surname. It is always a good idea to conduct a thorough genealogical research to trace the specific roots and distribution of the surname.

Variations of the surname Likins

The surname Likins may have several variants and related spellings due to regional differences, pronunciation, translation inaccuracies between languages, and even errors in record transcription. Other variants might include Lykins, Lykens, Likens, Lickens, Leikens, Leekens, Lijkins, Liekins, Lykyns, Linkins, Lickins, and Lekins.

Sometimes, people with this last name can trace their origins to places like England, Scotland, Germany, and the Netherlands, given the Anglicized and Germanic variants of the name. It's possible that these variants have resulted from phonetic adaptations as families moved across regions and countries.

The surname Likins might have been originally patronymic, derived from a personal name, or toponymic, based on a geographical location. For instance, the 'kins' ending is a diminutive suffix of English origin that means 'little', often added to a personal name. It can also be of Dutch origin where it corresponds to the 's' in English surnames, indicating "son of." However, specific genealogical research would be needed for an accurate understanding and tracing of the surname's evolution and distribution.

Famous people with the name Likins

• Joshua Likins: American entrepreneur and venture investor.
• Martin Likins: british actor and director
• William Likins: American professional basketball player
• B.B. Likins: Motivational speaker and author
• Gary Likins: American Singer-songwriter
• Bob Likins: Former American football player
• John Likins: Award-winning American film composer
• Steve Likins: Former Head Coach for the Humboldt State University Lumberjacks football team
• Frank Likins: American college football coach
• Eric Likins: Former program director for Kellogg Foundation's leadership programs

Other surnames

LikinLikings