Surname Larking - Meaning and Origin

Larking: What does the surname Larking mean?

The last name Larking is of English origin. It is an occupational surname that originated in the Middle Ages, referring to someone who was a larker, meaning a hunter of small birds (larks). This name is derived from the Middle English word “larker,” and before that, from the Old French “lardor,” ultimately derived from the Proto-Germanic “lahon” meaning “to sing.” During the Middle Ages, larker was an important profession, as larks were used for food and for use in hunting falcons, which were a popular pastime among the upper classes of society.

Today, the surname Larking is most commonly found in England, but is also found in other regions with historic ties to England, such as the United States and Canada. The surname is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, where it ranks as the 950th most common surname. This surname is also found in Germany, where it is much less common.

People with the last name Larking are generally descended from a medieval hunter of larks. This would suggest that they likely belong to a family that enjoyed some degree of status, as members of the lower classes would not typically be able to afford to hunt for falcons. They may also have a greater appreciation for nature and birds, since their ancestors once hunted larks. Most people today with the last name Larking are likely to have English heritage, although their ancestors may have migrated to other countries.

Larking: Where does the name Larking come from?

The surname Larking is found primarily in the United Kingdom. It is a particularly popular surname in the southern counties including London, Surrey, Kent, and Sussex. There are also smaller clusters of Larkings found in East Anglia and Wales.

In the last few hundred years the distribution of Larkings across the UK has remained largely unchanged. Many Larkings would have stayed in their home county for several generations, however there were also some migrations further afield. The Industrial Revolution saw some Larkings moving to the cities of England to seek work. Larkings can also be found around the world today, especially in the United States, Canada and Australia as these countries welcomed migrants during the 19th century.

The Larking surname originates from the Old English name 'Larinc', which in turn was derived from the Old German first name 'Larinc'. This name is thought to indicate a relation to the god, Loki, which may explain why there are clusters of Larkings in counties with old Norse influence such as East Anglia and Kent.

The spelling of the surname has varied over the years and variations such as 'Larning', 'Larkin', 'Larkins', 'Larkins' and 'Lerking' can all refer to people with the same heritage.

Today there are a variety of occasions in which the surname of Larking is still celebrated. For example, there is an annual Larking family reunion held in East Anglia. The Larking Clan is also part of the WikiTree database, enabling Larkings from around the world to connect with their family history.

Variations of the surname Larking

The surname Larking has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Some of these include Larkins, Laarkin, Larkein, Larkening, Larkyns, and Larkines.

The Larking surname is derived from the Old Norse personal name, "Larki," which is itself derived from the Old German "Laurantius." It is thought to have first been introduced into Ireland by the Anglo-Norman-French in the 12th Century. Subsequently, the surname spread through Ireland and the United Kingdom.

The Larking surname usually appears with the "s" (Larkings), but also can be found often without it (Larking). The "s" is sometimes dropped when the name is Anglicized, though the spelling is still pronounced the same.

Other variants of the Larking surname include Larkin, Larkins, Larkein, Larkening, Larkyns, Larkines, and Larkines. Both Lakin and Laikin are sometimes seen, though these may be more commonly found as variant spellings of Leakin or Leakins.

The Larking surname remains relatively common in both Ireland and the United Kingdom, where it was first introduced. In the United States, the surname is also quite common, particularly in areas of the country where there is a large Irish or British population.

Famous people with the name Larking

• Bill Larking: Professional cricket player who was the captain of the New Zealand cricket team.
• Jim Larking: Award-winning cinematographer and director known for multiple documentaries as well as feature films such as Tusk and Highland Park.
• Frederic Larking: 18th Century English scholar and minister whose notable works include The Constitutions of the Free-Masons and The Caledonian Triumph.
• H. Larking: 19th century English nonconformist minister whose works included The History of Congregationalism and Reminiscences of John Angell James.
• Kim Larking: UK-based author and poet whose works include the novel London in the Sun and the poetry collections Choreographies and Conversations.
• Wilbur Larking: Canadian journalist, editor and entrepreneur who was an influential voice in the British Columbia newspaper industry.
• Pablo Larking: Contemporary Canadian artist and sculptor whose works have been featured in galleries in Alberta, USA and Canada.
• John Larking: British sculptor whose works can be found in museums and galleries around the world.
• William Larking: 19th century English journalist and political writer known for his publications The Literary Sketch and Recollections for the Commonweal.
• Abel Larking: English painter and illustrator who was the creator and principal artist for numerous books for children.

Other surnames

LarkinLarkins