Surname Calkins - Meaning and Origin

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V. Calkins

Calkins: What does the surname Calkins mean?

The last name Calkins is of English origin and derived from the Old English personal name "Cola", which means black or coal-dark. The name refers to “the son of Cola” or “Kin of Cola”. So, the surname Calkins could represent the descendants of a person once known as Cola. As surnames originally served the purpose of identifying individuals, the name Cola may have been used to distinguish a person with black or extremely dark hair. It's also possible that the name was given to someone who worked a trade associated with the color black, such as coal mining or blacksmithing, although this is purely speculative. Like many surnames, Calkins would eventually have passed down through generations, losing its original contextual meaning and becoming a family name.

Calkins: Where does the name Calkins come from?

The surname Calkins is of English origin, derived from the medieval given name "Calkin". The name was quite popular in the Middle Ages and was allegedly brought into England by the Normans after the Conquest of 1066. Its origins can be traced back to the Old Norse name "Kálkr", which means "chalk". A popular theory is that it may have been used as a nickname for someone with very fair or pale skin or maybe for a scholar, someone who uses chalk.

Today, the surname Calkins is most common in the United States, thanks to early settlers in the country who bore the name, including Hugh Calkins, who emigrated from Wales in the early 17th century to Norwich, Connecticut. It's particularly prevalent in the states of Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania. It can also be found, to a lesser extent, in Canada, England, and Australia.

Variations of the surname Calkins

The surname Calkins originates from the Welsh region of Caer Llwyn and has evolved over time with many variants and spellings, largely due to phonetic spelling in record keeping.

Some variations and spellings of Calkins include, but are not limited to: Caulkins, Calkin, Caulkin, Calquhoun, Calhoune, Calcott, Calcot, Calken, Calking, Calcoen, and Calken.

For some, a name change was made upon immigration to the New World, as was common during the periods of heavy European immigration to the United States. As such, some individuals with the surname Calkins may find that their ancestors had one of these altered spellings.

Surname based on region could be Llwyn or Caer, when traced back to the Welsh roots of the surname. However, that in-depth use of direct Welsh naming would be relatively rare as most Welsh individuals anglicized their names upon immigration.

While the origin of the surname is Welsh, it's important to note Welsh names likely have Celtic and sometimes Roman influences due to historical occupation and cultural integration in Wales.

Famous people with the name Calkins

• Lucy M. Calkins: An educator and popular author with numerous books on teaching writing and reading.
• Ben Calkins: A former politician in Ohio who ran for the United States senate.
• Mary Whiton Calkins: An influential psychologist known as the first woman to become president of the American Psychological Association.
• Gary Calkins: A former American football player who played as a guard for the St. Louis Cardinals in the National Football League (NFL).
• Spencer Calkins: A former politician who served in the Ohio House of Representatives.
• William Calkins: A pioneering American lawyer, politician, and businessman who served in the U.S Congress.
• Howard Calkins: An American illustrator and commercial artist, best known for creating the original design of the Kewpie doll.
• Emily Calkins: An American author known for writing books including "Dress Codes for Small Towns".
• James Calkins: An American politician and lawyer who served as U.S. Representative from the state of Michigan's 8th congressional district.
• Hugh S. Calkins: An internationally known academic cardiologist, heads the electrophysiology department at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Other surnames

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