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

Folkes, 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 Folkes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Folkes in America

Folkes is the 20985th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Folkes surname appeared 1,254 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Folkes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Folkes 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 Folkes

The surname Folkes has its origins in England, with records indicating its presence as early as the 12th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English word "folc," which means "people" or "tribe." This suggests that the name may have initially been used to identify individuals who lived among a particular group or community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Folkes can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This document mentions a person named "Folcus" living in Lincolnshire, England, providing evidence of the name's existence during the Norman period.

During the Middle Ages, the Folkes surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk in East Anglia. Many of the early bearers of the name were likely associated with the local villages and settlements, with some place names potentially contributing to the evolution of the surname. For instance, the village of Folkestone in Kent may have influenced the spelling variations of the name.

Among the notable individuals bearing the surname Folkes throughout history is Martin Folkes (1690-1754), an English mathematician, astronomer, and antiquarian. He served as the President of the Royal Society from 1741 to 1753 and made significant contributions to the study of ancient manuscripts and antiquities.

Another prominent figure was Sir William Browne Folkes (1786-1858), a British politician and landowner. He served as a Member of Parliament for Norfolk and was actively involved in local affairs, contributing to the development of his community.

In the literary realm, John Folkes (1633-1697) was an English poet and playwright. He is best known for his work "The English Friar," a satirical play that criticized the Catholic Church and its practices during the Reformation era.

The Folkes surname was also associated with maritime history. Captain Thomas Folkes (1700-1776) was a renowned British naval officer who participated in several significant battles during the 18th century, including the Battle of Quiberon Bay during the Seven Years' War.

Lastly, Robert Folkes (1765-1835) was a British artist and engraver who gained recognition for his intricate engravings of landscapes and architectural subjects. His works were highly sought after and can be found in various museum collections.

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and achievements of individuals bearing the surname Folkes throughout history, contributing to the rich tapestry of English heritage and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Folkes

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

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 Folkes 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 Folkes 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 Folkes was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!