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There are approximately 23,375 people named Franklin in the UK. That makes it the 429th most common surname overall. Out of every million people in the UK, approximately 370 are named Franklin.

Region of origin

British Isles

Country of origin

England

Language of origin

English

Religion of origin

Christian

Classification

English
Status Name

Related and similar surnames

Fraklin
Ffranklin
Fraenklin
Frainklin
Ffrancklin
Ffranckline
Ffranklyn
Ffrankling
Ffrancklyn
Franckeling
Ffranckling
Faranklin
Feranklin
Franckclyn
Ffrancklinge
Farnklin
Franckelin
Ffrancklyng
Francblin
Fraenkl
Franckelyn

The Franklin surname in historical dictionaries

An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857)

Anciently, in England, a "superior freeholder," next below gentlemen in dignity, now called country Squires. Fortescue says (De Leg. Ang.), "Moreover England is so filled and replenished with landed menne, that therein the smallest thorpe can not be found wherin dwelleth not a knight or an esquire, or such a householder as is there commonly called a Franklin, enriched with great possessions, and also other freeholders, and many yeomen, able for their livelyhood to make a jury in form aforementioned." So Chaucer, in his Canterbury Tales; "A Franklin was in this companie, White was his beard, as is the dayesie."

Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.

Patronymica Britannica (1860)

FRANKLIN. In the H.R. Franckleyn, Franlielain (with and without the prefix Le), Franklanus, &c. Halliwell's definition is " a large freeholder." Properly the son or descendant of a vilein, who had become rich; but the term was also applied to farmers and country gentlemen of inconsiderable pjoperty. Chaucer's description, however, makes the Franklin a much more important personage. See Eng. Sum., i. 127-8.

Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.

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