Surname Parkyns - Meaning and Origin
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Parkyns: What does the surname Parkyns mean?
The surname Parkyns is of English origin. It is derived from the medieval personal name Parkin, a diminutive form of the name Peter. In the New Testament, Peter is the name given to Simon, one of the twelve apostles, by Jesus. The name Peter comes from the Greek "petros", meaning "rock".
The suffix "-kins" is also derived from the Middle English period and was often added to names as a diminitive indicator, signifying "little" or "son of." Therefore, Parkyns can be interpreted to mean "little Peter" or "son of Peter".
This surname is found most frequently in the East Midlands region of England. The Parkyns family can be traced back to the time of William the Conqueror, where their ancestor, Sir Roger de Rutland, had rendered notable services. Over time, the family name also evolved into various other forms such as Perkins, Perkin, Parkin, and Parkinson, among others. So, anyone bearing the name Parkyns likely has deep English roots and a rich family history.
Order DNA origin analysisParkyns: Where does the name Parkyns come from?
The last name Parkyns is concentrated mainly in Great Britain. In England and Wales, it is most common in the Greater London area. Specifically, it can be found concentrated in a handful of areas of London, with the highest concentrations in South London and Lambeth. It is also found as far afield as Balham, Crystal Palace, Dulwich, and Wandsworth. Parkyns can also be found in the Greater Birmingham area, including Edgbaston, Harborne, Sutton Coldfield, and Smethwick.
On a broader level, the surname is most Common in the United Kingdom, where it is ranked 2,821st. Outside of Great Britain, it can be found in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States. It is particularly common among British expatriates living in Australia. Parkyns is ranked 7,248th in the United States, 5,755th in Australia, 7,440th in Ireland, and 8,365th in New Zealand.
Variations of the surname Parkyns
The surname Parkyns is an English name that originates from the Old English personal name “Picen” or “Pecen”, an early form of Patrick. The most likely derivations of the name are from the early Anglo-Saxon word “pire”, meaning “hedge” or “enclosure”, and “hus”, meaning “house”. This may refer to someone who lived near a hedged enclosure, or worked on a property that had this kind of protective boundary. The name first appeared in the 12th century and was first recorded in the documents of the Monks of St. Mary’s Abbey in York in the early 13th century when Roger fitz Picen was recorded there.
The variants of the surname Parkyns include Parkyn, Parkin, Parkins, Parkinson, Parkynson, Parkynsone, Parkison and Parkinzon. Other surnames of similar origin include Park, Parkes, Parkhouse, Parkin, Parke, Parkeman, and Perkin.
The Australian spelling of the surname Parkyns is Parks, which was adopted by some of the family in the late 19th century when they moved to Australia. The surname also underwent French influence, as did many English surnames, and the French “park” became “parc” in the 15th century. This form, which is still used in various parts of Europe, is most likely the origin of the surname Parks.
Famous people with the name Parkyns
- Doug Parkyns—An English football player who played midfielder for clubs such as Northampton Town, Lincoln City, Cambridge United, and Northwich Victoria.
- Charles Parkyns—An English architect who designed several churches, particularly in Northamptonshire.
- Joel Parkyns—An English professional rugby player who played for Worcester Warriors in the Premiership and competed internationally in the Junior World Cup.
- John Parkyns—An English footballer who played defense for Cardiff City and served as team captain in the 1960s.
- Emma Parkyns—An English actress and presenter best known for her regular role in the BBC series Grange Hill.
- Madeleine Parkyns—An English novelist who wrote many novels for children and teens and contributed to the anthology A Treasury of Fantastic and Magical Stories.
- Jocelyn Parkyns—An English marquess who served as the Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire from 1969 to 1974.
- Beryl Parkyns—An English journalist who wrote for The Guardian, The Scotsman and The Sunday Times throughout her career.
- Richard Parkyns—An English Anglican priest and academic administrator. He served as Provost of Durham from 1547 to 1554.
- Alan Parkyns—An English athlete who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics in London.