FRANKLIN
The surname Franklin belongs to the class of English status‑names and is historically associated with the British Isles, particularly England. It arose within the medieval feudal system and originally denoted a person of high social standing, typically a free landholder.
The etymology of Franklin derives from the Middle English term frankelin, itself borrowed from the Anglo‑Norman French franc meaning “free” in the sense of liberal and generous, combined with the Germanic suffix -ling. In this construction the name signified a free man, a prosperous individual, or a holder of extensive lands who was not bound as a serf.
In medieval England the status of a Franklin varied by region and period, but generally the bearer was a gentleman ranked above the principal body of minor freeholders and below a knight or a member of the nobility. The earliest documentary evidence dates to the late twelfth century; a record of Ralph Frankelein appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1195 during the reign of King Richard I, and another entry notes Luke le Franckeleyn in the Cambridgeshire Feet of Fines of 1234.
During the sixteenth century the name continued to be recorded, for example the marriage of George Franklin and Agnes Hills on 11 February 1560 at St. Dionis Backchurch, London. The modern idiom recognises six principal spelling variations: Frankling, Francklyn, Francklin, Franklen, Franklyn and Franklin itself.
The surname also survived the English colonisation of North America. The American statesman and scientist Benjamin Franklin (1706‑1790) was of British descent; his father, a maker of soap and candles, emigrated from Ecton in Northamptonshire to Boston around 1682.
Typical given names associated with the Franklin surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
Female
- Amanda
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Jane
- Karen
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Fraenkl
- Fraklin
- Francken
- Francklin
- Francklow
- Francklyn
- Francksen
- Franckson
- Francoli
- Francolini
- Francolino
- Frank
- Frankcon
- Frankein
- Frankeli
- Franken
- Franki
- Frankie
- Frankilin
- Frankin
- Franking
- Frankis
- Frankl
- Franklain
- Franklan
- Frankland
- Franklen
- Frankley
- Franklind
- Frankline
- Frankling
- Franklinos
- Franklins
- Frankln
- Franklon
- Frankly
- Franklyn
- Franklyne
- Franklynn
- Franksen
- Frankson
- Frankton
- Frankun
- Frankwin
- Franlin
- Franzolin
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Franklin in...
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Morse
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Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Franklin are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Rich Tea.
There are approximately 19,827 people named Franklin in the UK. That makes it the 434th most common surname in Britain. Around 304 in a million people in Britain are named Franklin.
Surname type: Status name
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Franklin
- Rosalind Franklin - Chemist, biophysicist, and X-ray crystallographer (1920 to 1958)
- Benjamin Franklin - American author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic act (1706 to 1790)
- Aretha Franklin - American singer, songwriter, and pianist (1942 to 2018)
- John Franklin - Royal Navy officer and Arctic explorer (1786 to 1847)
- Pamela Franklin - Actress
- Gretchen Franklin - Actress (1911 to 2005)
- Vincent Franklin - Actor
- Tony Franklin - Singer
- Deborah Read Franklin - Spouse of Benjamin Franklin (1708 to 1774)
- Lonnie David Franklin Jr. - American serial killer
- Adam Franklin - Guitarist, singer, and songwriter
- Richard Franklin - Actor and politician
- Caryn Franklin - Fashion journalist
- Stuart Franklin - Photographer
- Neil Franklin - Football player and manager (1922 to 1996)
- Frederic Franklin - Dancer and ballet director (1914 to 2013)
- Hugh Franklin - Suffragist and politician (1889 to 1962)
- Colin Franklin - Writer and bibliographer
- Henrietta Franklin - (1866 to 1964)
- Adrian Franklin - -Australian sociologist and television presenter
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.