Jenkins is a surname that originated in Cornwall, but came to be popular in southern Wales. The name "Jenkin" originally meant "little John" or "son of John". The "kin" portion is of Dutch origin (-kijn), which then gained a certain popularity in England.
Siôn ap Siencyn is the Welsh name meaning John, son of Jenkin. It becomes the common Anglicized name John Jenkins. ... The Senchan name, as a kind of vocational title, evolved into “Seanchaí,” (or Seanachie) which is what the Irish storytellers and poets call themselves today.
