Origins

According to "The Oxford Dictionary of English Surnames" Dawkins means 'Little David' from Dawe plus kin presumably from Old English. The earliest recorded name is Willelmus filius Daukyn (William, son of Daukyn) in 1332 from the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire. Then a William Daukyn in the 13th Centruy in the Coucher Book or Chartulary of Whalley Abbey near Blackburn, Lancashire. Richard Daukyns is recorded in 1354 in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire. Magister Dr Dawkyns recorded in 1534 in the Registers of the Guild of Corpus Christi in the City of York, identical to John Dakyn LL.D., vicar-general of York. The earliest Essex mention is from the Session Rolls of Essex dated Jan 1585 of John & William Dawkyn of Finchingfield.

 Maps

I've created a number of maps showing the baptisms & births of Dawkins in the United Kingdom throughout the last few centuries using data extracted from the IGI and the BMD Indexes. These show how the Dawkins name has increased and moved around the country. Whether the families are connected I don't know. Certainly DNA testing should sort that out and prove the case. I will be adding a number of maps showing marriages and deaths from the IGI and eventually BMD data from the various Registration Districts nationwide. I do welcome any names and events that can be added to my files and especially families that can be added to the website.

Dawkins families were predominantly found in the counties of Devon, Essex, Hampshire, Kent, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and South Wales.

Birth & Death Registrations
 1837 - 1961
Distribution of birth registrations from 1837 to 1940 and death registrations from 1837 to 1961 across England & Wales
Marriage Registrations
 1837 - 1948
Distribution of marriage registrations across England & Wales
1500 - 1600
 
1600 - 1700
 
1700 - 1800
 
1800 - 1900
 
CENSUS
 
1841
 
1851
 
1861
 
1871
 
1881
 
1891
 
1901