Adkins is an English surname that originated as a variant of Atkins, meaning "son of Atkin." Atkin itself is a medieval diminutive of the given name Adam, which traces its roots to the Hebrew word for "man" (ʾaḏam) and is associated with the biblical first human created by God. The surname thus carries the literal sense of "son of little Adam."Etymology and HistoryAdkins is a patronymic surname, formed by adding the common English patronymic suffix -s (meaning "son of") to Atkin. The name Atkin reflects a common medieval practice of creating affectionate or diminutive forms of popular given names, in this case Adam. As a given name, Adam gained widespread use in England after the Norman Conquest and was particularly bolstered by the Protestant Reformation. The surname Adkins and its variants (such as Adams and Adamson) are thus deeply embedded in the English naming tradition.DistributionAdkins is most commonly found in the United States, where it ranks among the several hundred most frequent surnames. In England, it is also present though less predominant, concentrated in regions like the Midlands. The name has spread globally through English emigration, particularly during the colonial period and the era of mass migration in the 19th and 20th centuries.Notable BearersThe surname Adkins has been borne by numerous accomplished individuals across various fields. In the arts, Adele Adkins (born 1988), known mononymously as Adele, is a globally celebrated British singer-songwriter with multiple Grammy Awards. In sports, Bradley Adkins (born 1993) is an American track and field athlete specializing in the high jump. In the military, Bennie G. Adkins (1934–2020) was a United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his valor during the Vietnam War. Politics includes Bertha Adkins (1906–1983), an American educator and political activist, and Betty Adkins (1938–2001), an American politician. The name also appears in academia with A. W. H. Adkins (1929–1996), a British classical scholar.Related NamesAdkins belongs to a wider family of English patronymics derived from Adam, including Adams ("son of Adam"), Adamson ("son of Adam"), Adcock (a diminutive of Adam, with -cock as a familiar suffix), Addison ("son of Addy", a diminutive of Adam), and Aiken (another variant of Atkin). In other languages, comparable patronymics exist, such as Adamić (Croatian), Adamsen (Norwegian), and various Slovak forms like Adamík.Meaning: Variant of Atkins ("son of little Adam")Origin: EnglishType: Patronymic surnameUsage Regions: English-speaking world, especially United States and United Kingdom