fagins

Fagins is a surname of limited usage in English-language records. It may appear as a variant or plural form related to other surnames such as Fagin or Fagan, though there is no single, well-established origin. Because it is uncommon, reliable statistics on the name are sparse, and it rarely appears in contemporary public life. When encountered, it is typically used as a family name rather than a given name.

In literature and film, the best-known bearer of a closely related name is Fagin, the principal character in Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist. Fagin is depicted as a veteran criminal who leads a gang of child pickpockets. The plural form "Fagins" may be used in scholarly writing to discuss multiple adaptations or interpretations of this character across different media, rather than to refer to real people.

Discourse around Fagin and related forms has engaged with issues of representation and stereotype, particularly concerning ethnic portrayals in 19th-century literature and their later adaptations. Critics have noted the character's controversial status while acknowledging its literary influence. The surname Fagins itself remains rare and is mostly encountered in genealogical or fictional contexts. See also Fagin; Fagan.