Explore the Family Name Firkins
The meaning of Firkins
English (West Midlands): patronymic from Firkin, a metonymic occupational name for a cooper or beer seller, or perhaps for a heavy drinker, from Middle English fir(de)kin ‘wooden cask; quarter of a barrel (as a measure of capacity)’, probably from a Middle Dutch diminutive of vierde ‘fourth (part)’. As a measure of capacity a firkin was reckoned as a quarter of a barrel.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Firkins in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Firkins ranked 28,433rd in popularity in 2000 and fell slightly to 28,587th by 2010, a marginal drop of 0.54%. Despite this slight drop in rank, the count of individuals bearing the Firkins name actually increased from 790 to 834 during the same period, marking a growth of 5.57%. This suggests that while the Firkins surname may not have climbed in the ranks, it has grown modestly in terms of absolute numbers.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #28,433 | #28,587 | -0.54% |
| Count | 790 | 834 | 5.57% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.29 | 0.28 | -3.45% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Firkins
In terms of ethnic identity, data from the Decennial U.S. Census indicates that the majority of individuals bearing the Firkins surname identify as white, with 93.92% in 2000 and a slightly decreased proportion of 93.05% in 2010. The Hispanic demographic saw a slight increase from 3.67% in 2000 to 3.84% in 2010. Similarly, those identifying as two or more races grew from 1.01% to 1.44%, and those identifying as Black increased from 1.14% to 1.32%. No data was reported for those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 93.92% | 93.05% | -0.93% |
| Hispanic | 3.67% | 3.84% | 4.63% |
| Two or More Races | 1.01% | 1.44% | 42.57% |
| Black | 1.14% | 1.32% | 15.79% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |