Jenkins/Jenkin
Lazarus Jenkin ca 1739-1823
William Jenkins ca 1781-1836
John Jenkins 1822-1889?
Margaret Louisa Jenkins 1866-1913?
Jenkins
meaning and origins
Although now, largely considered to be a Welsh name, the name actually has its origins in Engish. It is a double diminutive - i.e. Jenkin was originally a forename meaning son of John or little John. The ‘kin’ bit is a Flemish import. (other examples are Perkin, Hopkin, Watkin). Later, a son of Jenkin would take his father’s name as a surname, and add the s to show he was the son - double diminutive! It is apparently almost unknown in north west Wales.
variations
Jenkin, Jenkins, Jenkyn, Jencken, Junkin
distribution in England and Wales
In 1891 the Jenkins’ were indeed concentrated in Wales - and particularly Glamorgan and Monmouthshire, followed by the adjacent counties of Carmarthen and Cardigan. Then of course there is always London.
A grandmother who was never known or known about, from the beautiful countryside of Glamorgan where the family seems to have originated. A distant ancestor with the tantalising name of Lazarus with a wife with the name of one of Wales’ most distinguished families - the Turbevilles, though he was but a poor agricultural labourer. Not much is known about the next generation, but the great grandfather (John) is trackable - a wandering man - at least around South Wales.
So country people - the peasants who kept the rural economy of Wales going, and the aristocrats in their country estates, furnished with food - and money.
Glamorgan, Wales
