Surname Haskins - Meaning and Origin

Recasting Identity and Heritage through iGENEA: A Personal Reflection as a Haskins

As a Haskins, I've always associated my identity with narrations passed down through generations. However, the iGENEA DNA test impacted my understanding of my roots dramatically.

F. Haskins

Haskins: What does the surname Haskins mean?

The surname Haskins is of Old Norse origin and is derived from the personal name Haakon, which means "high son" or "chosen son". It is a patronymic name, meaning it is based on the name of a male ancestor. The name Haakon was popular among Norwegian kings, which may suggest a connection to noble or royal lineage for some with the Haskins surname. The "-s" or "-ins" ending often indicates "son of," so Haskins likely meant "son of Haakon.” Over time, the name Haakon may have been anglicized to Haskin, with the “s” added to denote sonship. It's important to note that the origins and meanings of surnames can vary greatly and this interpretation is one of many.

Haskins: Where does the name Haskins come from?

The surname Haskins is of English origin. It derives from a medieval given name, 'Haskin' or 'Hoskin', a diminutive of the personal names 'Henry' or 'Hasse'. The first records of this surname date back to Medieval England around the early 13th century. Over time, the name spread across the British Isles and into other English-speaking countries due to migration and colonization.

Today, it is common in several English-speaking countries, particularly in the United States, where it traces back to early settlers from the United Kingdom. It also remains common in England and is found in lower frequencies across other parts of the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Although less common, the surname can also be found in non-English speaking countries due to global migration. It is important to note that the concentration of the name can vary within these countries, often found more densely in specific regions or cities. Given its English origin, the name Haskins is most frequently encountered in areas of significant historic British influence.

Variations of the surname Haskins

The surname Haskins is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is primarily found in England, Ireland and the United States. It is thought to be a patronymic form of the personal name "Haskin," a diminutive of "Hasse," derived from the Old Norse name "Ásketill" or "Ásketel," meaning "ash kettle."

The variations of the name Haskins may include Haskin, Hasken, Haskins, Hasskins, Haskeyns, Haskyne, Heskins, Hiskeyns, Hiskyns, Hascan, Hesken, and Haskan. Early documents also record a version of the name spelled as "Aschetil".

Like many surnames, Haskins can also be found with various other spellings due to human errors by clerks, priests, or census workers who wrote down the name phonetically, resulting in different spellings depending on the origin and transcription. These variant spellings allowed the same-sounding names to be recorded differently in different documents, giving rise to different branches of the same family with different surnames.

It's also worth noting that many people emigrated to other countries over centuries and the surname could have been adjusted to better fit new languages or cultures, resulting in an array of possible variations.

Famous people with the name Haskins

• Beth Haskins: Professional basketball player with the Indiana Fever, the Washington Mystics, and the Phoenix Mercury
• Quentin Haskins: Former American professional basketball player
• Johnny Haskins: Psychedelic rock singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist
• Lyndon Haskins: composer and songwriter best known for his work in the musical genre of punk rock
• Lawrence Haskins: American Democratic politician that has served in the Maryland House of Delegates since 1995
• Consuella Haskins: American actress, writer, director, and producer
• David Haskins: English journalist, author, and broadcaster
• Terry Haskins: Retired National Football League defensive tackle
• Rob Haskins: Musician, singer-songwriter, and recording engineer
• John Haskins: American lawyer, Supreme Court justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court

Other surnames

HaskiHaskillHaskinHaskitt