Show ContentsFranklen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Franklen is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from a family once having lived at the francland or freeland. It the surname Franklen originally derived from the Old French word Francland which referred to dweller at the freeland. The surname Franklen 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 Franklen family

The surname Franklen 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 Franklen family

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

Franklen Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Franklen has been recorded under many different variations, including Frankland, Franklands, Franckland, Francklands and many more.

Early Notables of the Franklen 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. 2Sir William Frankland, 1st Baronet...
Another 55 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Franklen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Franklen family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Franklen or a variant listed above: 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


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