England
IrelandThe origins of the Francklins surname lie with the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name Francklins began when someone in that family worked as a landowner who was not a member of the nobility. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the Old French word fraunclein, which became frankeleyn in Old English, and denoted rank within the feudal system; a person who owned land but did not have the right to call himself a lord.
The surname Francklins was first found in Buckinghamshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Francklins research. Another 88 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1195, 1234, 1274, 1480, 1556, 1630, 1684, 1647, 1625, 1640, 1630, 1685, 1661, 1679, 1697 and 1735 are included under the topic Early Francklins History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Francklins has appeared include Franklyn, Francklyn, Francklin, Franklin, Franklind and many more.
Notables of this surname at this time include: William Franklyn (1480?-1556), Dean of Windsor, born at Bledlow, Buckinghamshire; Robert Franklin (1630-1684), an English nonconformist divine; Sir John Franklyn (died 1647), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Middlesex in...
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Francklins Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Francklins family to IrelandSome of the Francklins family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Francklins arrived in North America very early: Henry Franklin who settled in Virginia in 1635; Thomas Franklin settled in New England in 1679; Josiah Franklin settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1630.
