Show ContentsFalken History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The prestigious family surname Falken originated in the territory that eventually became the German state of Prussia. The name comes from the Middle High German word "valke," meaning "falcon," and as such, the surname was likely originally a nickname or an occupational name.

Early Origins of the Falken family

The surname Falken was first found in Brandenburg, where the name was closely identified in early mediaeval times with the feudal society which would become prominent throughout European history. The name emerged as a noble family with great influence, possessing extensive estates such as the castle Neuhaus and Thyrow in the region of Teltow as early as 1359, and became noted for its involvement in social, economic and political affairs. They also held property in Saxony, near the city of Wittenburg, as well as the state Luemzow in the region of Neu-Stettin (Pomerania) in 1583.

Early History of the Falken family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Falken research. Another 161 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1521, 1555, 1614, 1768, 1786, 1823, 1826, 1827, 1832, 1876 and 1900 are included under the topic Early Falken History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Falken Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Falken include Falk, Falcke, Valke, Falke, Falken and others.

Early Notables of the Falken family

Notable figures of the time with the name Falken were Joshua ben Alexander HaCohen Falk (1555-1614), a Polish Halakhist and Talmudist, author of the Beit Yisrael commentary on the Arba'ah Turim; Johann Daniel Falk (1768-1826), who was a Danzig-born...
Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Falken Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Falken family

The state of Prussia was a great influence on the shape of modern Germany. After the Second World War, Prussia's land was divided among the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany and the state was abolished. Some Prussians remained in those countries after the war, while many others migrated to North America in search of a new start. Philadelphia was their primary point of entry to the United States, after which many of them moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. A large number of Prussians also migrated to Ontario and the prairie provinces as United Empire Loyalists. Analysis of immigration records has shown some of the first Falkens to arrive in North America, and among them were: Wulf Falk, who came to Philadelphia in 1847; Georg Falk, his wife Agnes, and their five children, who arrived in Texas in 1854; and Joseph Falk, who arrived in New Castle County, Delaware, in 1853..



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