"Know one knows for sure where the name 'Conklin' originated but
tradition has it that in the 2nd century, the British Isles were populated by
tribes of people who moved around the islands, settling wherever they found
the means of survival. They chose a leader or chief who would lead them in
battle or through crisis. The chief would call the tribe, in times of need or
danger, by blowing a horn. These tribal settlements became known as 'Lynnes"
and had a prefix describing unique feature of the location, such Rock Lynne,
Lake Lynne, etc.
From about 200 AD, the forerunners of the Conklins settled in what is
now Belfast and survived by catches from the sea. Their chief called the
tribe together by blowing a conch shell and therefore the tribe was described
as "Conch-Lynne" and much later as Conklin, or Conkling, or Concklin, etc.
For some unexplained reason they must have wandered to what is now Scotland
and then on to England. In the year 1600, John Conklin was born in
Nottingham, England. He and two brothers, Annanias & Cornelius, came to
America, settling in Salem, MA in 1638. They were glass makers and were
welcome additions to the community. In 1651, John and Annanias are in
Southold, Long Island where they bought lands from the Indians and set up
their glass making business. Later, their progeny moved west to New Jersey
and lower New York state."
Thor Trolsen