Contents [hide]

Falkner History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Falkner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Ireland

The name Falkner 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 Falkner family

The surname Falkner 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 Falkner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Falkner 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 Falkner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Falkner Spelling Variations

Although the name, Falkner, appeared in many references, from time to time, the surname was shown with the spellings Falconer, Faulkner, Falknar, Falcener, Falconair, Fauknar, Favconer, Fawlkconer, Fawlkner, Fauconer, Fallconer, Faukner and many more.

Early Notables of the Falkner family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

William Falkner, D.D. (died 1682), an English divine of Glemsford, Suffolk
John Falconer (Falkner) (1577-1656), an English Jesuit

Falkner Ranking

In the United States, the name Falkner is the 8,204^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Falkner family to Ireland

Some of the Falkner 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.

Falkner 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 cholera, typhoid, dysentery or small pox. In North America, some of the first immigrants who could be considered kinsmen of the Falkner family name Falkner, or who bore a variation of the surname were

Falkner Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Fran Falkner, who landed in Virginia in 1657 6
Edward Falkner, who arrived in Maryland in 1673 6
Hannah Falkner, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1683 6

Falkner Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Daniel Falkner, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1704 6
Nathaniel Falkner, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 6
Ralph Falkner Sr., Ralph Falkner Jr., and their wives settled in Philadelphia in 1774
Johannes and Wilhelm Falkner, were recorded in Pennsylvania in 1777

Falkner Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Arnold Falkner, who settled in Kentucky in 1844
Joh Falkner, who arrived in New York in 1848
J. Falkner, who landed in Panama in 1851
George Falkner, who arrived in New York in 1853
James Falkner, who arrived in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1855 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Falkner migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Falkner Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Thomas Falkner, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
William Falkner, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749
Jane Falkner, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Lambert Falkner, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
John Falkner, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Falkner Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Mrs. Falkner, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907
Charles Falkner, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Falkner migration to Australia +

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

Falkner Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Falkner, (Fawkner, Faulkner), (b. 1771), aged 32, Cornish metal refiner who was convicted in London, England for 14 years for receiving stolen goods, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1854 7
John Falkner, English convict from Surrey, who was transported aboard the "Adamant" on March 16, 1821, settling in New South Wales, Australia 8
Mr. George Falkner, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Florentia" on 11th August 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. Robert Falkner, English convict who was convicted in Leicester, Leicestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Camden" on 21st September 1832, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
James Falkner, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Canton" in 1846 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Falkner 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:

Falkner Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Matthew Falkner, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Portland" in 1864
Catherine Falkner, aged 30, a servant, who arrived in Malborough aboard the ship "Gainsborough" in 1878 12

Contemporary Notables of the name Falkner (post 1700) +

Jason Falkner (b. 1968), American pop and rock musician
Elizabeth Falkner, American Pastry Chef
Allen Falkner (b. 1969), American artist
Thomas Falkner (1707-1784), English missionary
J Meade Falkner (1858-1932), English novelist and poet, best known for his 1898 novel, Moonfleet
Ernst Falkner (b. 1909), German politician, member of the Lower House of the German parliament
Brigitta Falkner (b. 1959), Austrian author
Kishwer Falkner (b. 1955), Baroness Falkner of Margravine, British politician
Harold Falkner, early 20th-century British architect

The Falkner 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/
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Adamant voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1821 with 144 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/adamant/1821
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/florentia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/camden
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CANTON 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846Canton.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 3rd November 2011). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html