Both Jenkins and Jenkin are more common as surnames, especially in Wales. However, both are sometimes used as given names, again especially in Wales.
Jenkins derives from the boy's name Jankin. This was fairly popular in the Middle Ages; it is a diminutive or pet form of the name Jan (-kin was a common pet form.)
Janis a common boy's name in several European countries; the French form is Jean and the English John.
So Jenkins is really an altered version of the very widespread name John. This in turn comes from the Old Testament-era Hebrew name Johanan, which means "God is merciful" or "God is gracious." Johanan in its Greek form was Iohannes or Johannes, which is more obviously related to the modern name John.
Jenkins derives from the boy's name Jankin. This was fairly popular in the Middle Ages; it is a diminutive or pet form of the name Jan (-kin was a common pet form.)
Janis a common boy's name in several European countries; the French form is Jean and the English John.
So Jenkins is really an altered version of the very widespread name John. This in turn comes from the Old Testament-era Hebrew name Johanan, which means "God is merciful" or "God is gracious." Johanan in its Greek form was Iohannes or Johannes, which is more obviously related to the modern name John.
