Contents [hide]

Falconer History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Falconer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Falconer was derived from 'falconer,' which in turn, was derived from the Old French word 'faulconnier,' a term of office for one who breeds or trains falcons and hawks for sport. Accordingly, one of the first records of the name was Matheus the falconarius (falconer) who witnessed a charter by Earl Davis c. 1202. 1

Early Origins of the Falconer family

The surname Falconer was first found in Angus, where early records revealed Gulielmus Auceps (William the falconer) was granted lands to the kirk (church) of Marington or Maryton c. 1200. "In the vernacular he may have borne the name Hawker, for while his descendants have retained the name Falconer their estate ('villa eiusdem Willelmi Aucipis') was known as Haukertun or Haukerstun." 1

Matheus the falconer (falconarius) is one of the witnesses to a charter by Earl David, (c. 1202.) Robert le Faukener or Fauconer of Kincarydn en Miernes rendered homage to Edward I in 1296. His seal bears a falcon killing a small bird. 1

The denotes "one who pursued the sport of falconry, so much admired in the Middle Ages, when a patrician was recognized by "his horse, his hawk, and his greyhound." Kings and great men kept a state falconer, and in such estimation was the office held in Norman times that Domesday Book shews us four different tenants-in-chief besides others who are described each as Accipitrarius-hawker, or falconer. The Domesday Book shows us four different tenants-in-chief besides others who are described as Accipitrarius - hawker, or falconer." 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list the following: Richard le Fauconer; and Walter le Fauconer and both residing in Huntingdonshire at that time. Kirby's Quest noted John le Fauconer and John Fauconner in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 3 Later, Geoffrey Fauconer was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 4

Early History of the Falconer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Falconer research. Another 120 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1202, 1203, 1296, 1350, 1380, 1547, 1577, 1595, 1620, 1623, 1640, 1656, 1660, 1668, 1671, 1676, 1678, 1679, 1680, 1681, 1682, 1684, 1685, 1686, 1723, 1724, 1727, 1751, 1758, 1797 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Falconer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Falconer Spelling Variations

During the era when a person's name, tribe and posterity was one of his most important possessions, many different spellings were found in the archives examined. Falconer occurred in many references, and spelling variations of the name found included Falconer, Faulkner, Falknar, Falcener, Falconair, Fauknar, Favconer, Fawlkconer, Fawlkner, Fauconer, Fallconer, Faukner and many more.

Early Notables of the Falconer family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

Colin Falconer (1623-1686), Scottish minister, Bishop of Argyll (1679-1680) Bishop of Moray (1680-1686)
John Falconer (Falkner) (1577-1656), an English Jesuit
John Falconer (fl. 1547), an English merchant
John Falconer (Falconar) (c.1660-1723), a Scottish minister in the Church of Scotland
Sir Alexander Falconer of Glenfarquhar
Sir David Falconer of Glenfarquhar, one of the commissaries of Edinburgh
Sir David Falconer, of Newton, (1640-1685), a Scottish judge, Lord of Session (1676), Lord of Justiciary (1678)
Sir Alexander Falconer, 1st Lord Falconer of Halkerton (1595-1671), a Scottish judge
Alexander Falconer, 2nd Lord Falconer of Halkerton (1620-1684)
David Falconer, 3rd Lord Falconer of Halkerton (1668-1724)
Alexander Falconer, 4th Lord Falconer of Halkerton (died 1727)

Falconer Ranking

In the United States, the name Falconer is the 10,505^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5 However, in New Zealand, the name Falconer is ranked the 650^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,103 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Falconer family to Ireland

Some of the Falconer family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 79 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Falconer migration to the United States +

Gradually becoming disenchanted with life in Ireland many of these uprooted families sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships often arrived with only 60 to 70% of their original passenger list, many dying of illness and the elements, were buried at sea. In North America, early immigrants bearing the family name Falconer, or a spelling variation of the surname include:

Falconer Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Richard Falconer, who arrived in Virginia in 1638 7
Edmond Falconer, who settled in New England in 1640

Falconer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Thomas Falconer, who settled in Maryland in 1714
Thomas Falconer, who arrived in Maryland in 1714 7
John Falconer, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1772

Falconer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Falconer, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1804 7
George Falconer, who landed in New York in 1812 7
Patrick Falconer, aged 34, who arrived in New York in 1812 7
Jean Falconer, who arrived in America in 1832 7
Archibald Falconer, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1840 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Falconer migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Falconer Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Alexander Falconer, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1773
Mr. James Falconer U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1786 8

Falconer Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Irvine Falconer, aged 27, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Highlander" in 1834
Betty Falconer, aged 26, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Highlander" in 1834
John Falconer, aged 8 months, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Highlander" in 1834
Robert Falconer, aged 8 months, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Highlander" in 1834
John Falconer, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Highlander" in 1834
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Falconer migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Falconer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Mary Falconer, Scottish convict who was convicted in Perth, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Buffalo" on 4th May 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
William Falconer, Scottish convict from Scotland, who was transported aboard the "Adelaide" on August 08, 1849, settling in Van Diemen's Land and Port Phillip, Australia 10
Henry Falconer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "The Stebonheath" in 1850 11

Falconer migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Falconer Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Falconer, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Blundell" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1848 12
Mr. John Falconer, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Jura" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd September 1858 12
Mr. C. Falconer, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Palmyra" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 19th February 1858 13
Mrs. Falconer, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Palmyra" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 19th February 1858 13
Mr. Alexander Falconer, Scottish ploughman from Leith travelling from Leith aboard the ship "Strathallan" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 8th January 1858 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Falconer (post 1700) +

Ian Woodward Falconer (1959-2023), American author and illustrator of children's books, and a designer of sets and costumes for the theater, created 30 covers for The New Yorker and other publications
Doug Falconer (1952-2021), Canadian-American film producer, singer-songwriter, recording artist and professional Canadian football player in the Canadian Football League (CFL)
John Mackie Falconer (1820-1903), Scottish-born American etcher, painter, and watercolorist
Thomas Falconer (1805-1882), English jurist and explorer
Anthony Adrian Falconer (b. 1804), 8th Lord Falconer of Halkerton, 7th Earl of Kintore in 1778
Kim Falconer (b. 1954), Australian author of science fantasy and epic fantasy
Brian Falconer (b. 1933), former Australian rules footballer
Claire Falconer, Irish actress and painter from Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
Earl Falconer (b. 1957), British bass player and singer, best known for his work with the British reggae band, UB40
Delia Falconer (b. 1966), Australian novelist, best known for her novel, The Service of Clouds
... (Another 13 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Falconer Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Vive ut vivas
Motto Translation: Live that you may live for ever

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/buffalo
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 17) Adelaide voyage to Van Diemen's Land and Port Phillip, Australia in 1849 with 303 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/adelaide/1849
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The STEBONHEATH 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Stebonheath.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html