Show ContentsFranklands History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The lineage of the name Franklands begins with the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It is a result of when they lived at the francland or freeland. It the surname Franklands originally derived from the Old French word Francland which referred to dweller at the freeland. The surname Franklands is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree.

Early Origins of the Franklands family

The surname Franklands was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat from ancient times and were Lords of the manor of Thirkelby in that county.

Of note was the Frankland Baronetcy, of Thirkelby (or Thirkleby.) This Baronetage of England, created on 24 December 1660 for William Frankland (c. 1640-1697.)

"The name of Frankland has long been established in the western part of the West Riding [of Yorkshire], as at Giggleswick (Wh. C.). Hugh Francklande was a Yorkshire gentleman who contributed £50 for the defence of his country at the time of the expected Spanish invasion of 1588 (Sp.). The name of Franklan occurs in the Hundredorum Rolls, and it seems probable that Frankland is sometimes a corruption of Franklin. There is a Frankland Hall in the North Riding, and the surname is also established there." [1]

Early History of the Franklands family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Franklands research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1531, 1587, 1628, 1629, 1630, 1640, 1665, 1671, 1685, 1697, 1698, 1726, 1747 and 1816 are included under the topic Early Franklands History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Franklands Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Franklands has undergone many spelling variations, including Frankland, Franklands, Franckland, Francklands and many more.

Early Notables of the Franklands family

Distinguished members of the family include Jocosa or Joyce Frankland (1531-1587), an English philanthropist; William Frankland (died 1640), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1628 to 1629 and in 1640.Richard Frankland (1630-1698) was an English nonconformist from Rathmell, a hamlet in the parish of Giggleswick, Yorkshire. [2]Sir William Frankland, 1st Baronet...
Another 55 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Franklands Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Franklands family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Franklands were among those contributors: Anne Franklaind who settled in Virginia in 1643; John Frankland settled in Virginia in 1700; Mr. Frankland settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1775.



  1. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  2. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


Houseofnames.com on Facebook