Show ContentsForkner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Forkner

What does the name Forkner mean?

The name Forkner 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 Forkner family

The surname Forkner 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 Forkner family

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

Forkner Spelling Variations

Although the name, Forkner, 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 Forkner family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was William Falkner, D.D. (died 1682), an English divine of Glemsford, Suffolk; Colin Falconer (1623-1686), Scottish minister, Bishop of Argyll (1679-1680) Bishop of Moray (1680-1686); John Falconer (Falkner) (1577-1656), an English Jesuit; John Falconer (fl. 1547), an English merchant; John Falconer (Falconar) (c.1660-1723), a Scottish minister in the Church of Scotland; Sir Alexander Falconer of Glenfarquhar; Sir David Falconer of Glenfarquhar...
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Forkner Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Forkner family to Ireland

Some of the Forkner 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.

Migration of the Forkner family

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 Forkner family name Forkner, or who bore a variation of the surname were Thomas, Robert, John, James, Alexander, Patrick, and Samuel Faulkner, all settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1754 and 1878; Thomas Faulkner settled in Virginia in 1663.


Contemporary Notables of the name Forkner (post 1700) +

  • Thomas Forkner (1918-2017), American businessman, lawyer, and notable senior golfer, co-founder of restaurant chain Waffle House which as of 2009 had 1,553 restaurants
  • Hamden Landon Forkner Sr. (1897-1975), American educator and writer who founded Future Business Leaders of America and developed the Forkner shorthand system for taking dictation
  • Adam Forkner (b. 1976), American musician and producer from Portland, Oregon


The Forkner 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


  1. 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)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. 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.
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)


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