| ![Show Contents]() Folks History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Today's generation of the Folks family bears a name that was brought to England by the wave of emigration that was started by the Norman Conquest of 1066. It comes from the Norman personal name Fulco. The line of this name descends from the noble house of Fulco Nerra, who held the title of Count of Anjou, Normandy. 1 Guido Fitz-Fulco of Normandy was listed in the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae (1180-1195.) Early Origins of the Folks familyThe surname Folks was first found in Norfolk where they were granted lands by William de Warrene. The first confirmed record of the family was Folco or Fulco who was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. 2 "Thomas Fouque occurs on the Exchequer Rolls of the Duchy about 1198. Robert Fulco was one of the Justiciaries in 1267." 3 Rotuli Curiae Regis rolls list Robert, Geoffry, Theobald, William F. Fulco in England, 1199. The mix of forename and surname entries continued for some time as the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 lists Folkes (without surname) in Cambridgeshire; John Folke in Cambridgeshire; and Matilda Folkis in Buckinghamshire. 4 The ffolkes variant was first coined by Sir Martin Browne ffolkes, 1st Baronet, FRS (1749-1821.) He was born Martin Folkes but chose to use the "ffolkes" spelling later in life. His descendants continued the tradition. Early History of the Folks familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Folks research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1538, 1589, 1596, 1597, 1616, 1638, 1644, 1652, 1653, 1662, 1685, 1690, 1710, 1754 and 1765 are included under the topic Early Folks History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Folks Spelling VariationsSpelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Folks have been found, including Folke, Folk, Folkes, Fulke, Fooke, Fooks, Foolk, Fowke and many more. Early Notables of the Folks familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was John Fowke (c. 1596-1662), an English merchant and politician, Sheriff of London in 1644 and Lord Mayor of London in 1652; Phineas Fowke, M.D. (1638-1710), an English physician from Bishop Burton, Yorkshire; and Lieutenant General Thomas Fowke (ca. 1690-1765), a British Army officer, appointed Governor of Gibraltar...
Another 54 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Folks Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Folks RankingIn the United States, the name Folks is the 8,393rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5  Migration of the Folks family to Ireland
Some of the Folks family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 43 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Folks migration to the United States | + |
For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. 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 Folks were among those contributors:
Folks Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- William Folks, who landed in Virginia in 1663 6
Folks Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- John Henry Folks, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1753 6
- Philip Folks, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1753 6
Folks Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- John Folks, who landed in Mobile County, Ala in 1842 6
- Magdalena Folks, aged 2, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1847 6
- F Folks, who arrived in Texas in 1850 6
| Contemporary Notables of the name Folks (post 1700) | + |
- Robert C. Folks, American politician, Member of Georgia State House of Representatives from Ware County, 1926 7
- James N. Folks (1897-2001), American Republican politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives, 1955-72; Defeated in primary, 1940 7
- Homer Folks (b. 1867), American Republican politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from New York County 29th District, 1899 7
- Charles Folks (b. 1858), American politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from Jackson County 2nd District, 1907-10 7
- Folks Huxford, American politician, Member of Georgia State House of Representatives from Clinch County, 1923-24 8
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: Qui sera sera
Motto Translation: Whatever will be.
- The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
- 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)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
|
Folks migration to the United States 
England
Ireland
