Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.
FOLLY
As described in historical dictionaries
Patronymica Britannica (1860)
FOLLY. "Any ridiculous buildino-, not answering its intended purpose." Halliwell. Most counties have many spots so called ; but I do not find Mr. Haiiiwell's deiluition always correct. I should prefer calling a " folly," a temporary or fragile building, and that seems to liave been the sense of the Norman -French p. In the Roman de Ron of Master Wace, line 12, 136 we read —