Find out how popular the last name Falkner is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Falkner.

Falkner, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Falkner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Falkner in America

Falkner is the 10402nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Falkner surname appeared 3,097 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Falkner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Falkner to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Falkner

The surname Falkner originates from England, with its earliest known use dating back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "falconere," meaning "keeper of falcons" or "falcon hunter." The name likely arose as an occupational surname for those who trained falcons for hunting purposes during the medieval period.

In the Domesday Book, a great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, there are references to individuals with the name Falconarius, the Latin equivalent of Falkner. This suggests that the name was already in use before the Norman Conquest of 1066.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Falkner is found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire in 1195, where a Richard le Faukener is listed. The spelling variations in the early records include Faukener, Fawkener, and Faulconer, reflecting the evolution of the name over time.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the Falkner surname appeared in various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Warwickshire. This indicates that the name was relatively widespread and not confined to a specific locality.

Sir Thomas Falkner (1510-1594) was a prominent figure during the Tudor period and served as Lord Mayor of London in 1585-1586. Another notable bearer of the name was Sir Everard Falkner (1617-1686), a politician and Member of Parliament for Hertfordshire during the English Civil War.

In the literary world, John Meade Falkner (1858-1932) was a renowned English novelist and poet, best known for his novel "Moonfleet" published in 1898. His works often drew inspiration from the landscapes and history of Dorset, where he spent much of his life.

Edward Falkner (1714-1768) was a British explorer and writer who traveled extensively in South America and the Caribbean. His accounts of his voyages, published in the mid-18th century, provided valuable insights into the geography, culture, and natural history of the regions he visited.

Jonathan Falkner (1768-1823) was a prominent Baptist minister and theologian in Philadelphia, known for his contributions to religious education and his advocacy for the abolition of slavery.

Throughout history, the Falkner surname has been associated with various professions, from falconry to politics, literature, exploration, and religious leadership. Its enduring presence over centuries reflects the diverse contributions of those who have borne this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Falkner

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Falkner.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Falkner was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Falkner has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Falkner was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Falkner, please contact us.

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