An English surname, the Hawkins family name comes from the Old English term of ‘hafoc’ and ‘havec’ which means hawk, hawking or one with such instincts.

Spelling variations of Hawkins include Hawkin, Haykins and Haykin.

The spelling for Hawkins in Norway is Haakonson, in Ireland it is O’hEachain and Haughan.

The region of Kent in the southern end of England was where many Hawkins families originated. Many were the early settlers to the New England region in North America in the 1630s and 1640s. Large groups also resettled in Ireland, especially in Ulster. Many of the early Hawkins settlers of the 18th century in the English colonies moved to Canada as United Empire Loyalist during and after the American Revolutionary War.

In the city of London the number of Hawkins is very high, as well as Kent, Hampshire and Somerset counties. The southern end of Scotland the Hawkins name is popular, mainly in Lanarkshire and Dumfries-shire counties.

Across more than half of the United States, the Hawkins surname is very popular. The higher populations are in the states of North Carolina, Ohio, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Kentucky, Illinois, California and Texas.

Famous: Walter Lincoln Hawkins (20th century inventor of insulated telephone wires), Jack Hawkins (English actor), Ronnie Hawkins (singer), Ben Hawkins (professional football player), Hamilton S. Hawkins (U. S. General during the Spanish-American War), John Hawkins (17th century merchant, slave trader, pirate and shipbuilder from England), Sophie B. Hawkins (singer), Wynn Hawkins (professional baseball player) and Jack Hawkins (English actor).