FAWKES
Fawkes
Fawkes is a notable British surname with historical significance. It is derived from the Old English personal name, "Fulcher," meaning "people's army." The name gained prominence due to one of its most famous bearers, Guy Fawkes.
Guy Fawkes was a 17th-century English soldier and member of the Gunpowder Plot, a failed attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605. His aim was to assassinate King James I and restore a Catholic monarch to the throne. The plot was discovered, thwarted, and Fawkes was subsequently executed for treason.
The surname Fawkes is associated with this infamous event in British history and has since become synonymous with the Gunpowder Plot and the annual celebrations of Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Night on 5th November in the United Kingdom. This festival involves lighting bonfires, setting off fireworks, and burning effigies of Guy Fawkes.
Over the centuries, the surname Fawkes has been carried by various individuals, contributing to different fields, including politics, literature, and the arts. It remains intertwined with a significant moment in British history and continues to evoke intrigue and curiosity among both historians and the general public.
There are approximately 1,172 people named Fawkes in the UK. That makes it roughly the 6,527th most common surname in Britain. Around 18 in a million people in Britain are named Fawkes.
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- George
- James
- John
- Mark
- Martin
- Matthew
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- Stuart
- William
Female
- Alison
- Barbara
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Gillian
- Helen
- Jean
- Julie
- Margaret
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.