Surname Faulkney - Meaning and Origin

Faulkney: What does the surname Faulkney mean?

The last name Faulkney is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is believed to have been derived from the Old English words ‘faelg’ and ‘neah’, meaning a ‘clearing in the forest’. It is likely the name was first used for a person who lived close to such a clearing, perhaps on a settlement, smallholding or farmstead near to a woodland area.

Early records of the surname date back to the 13th century in the Wiltshire - Hampshire area. Later records show it was also used in nearby Sussex and Hampshire villages. Once there, the name gained popularity, with multiple families using the surname.

The surname itself is an interesting mix. It is thought to indicate both strong forestry ties and nobility, as the fireside word ‘faelg’ was regularly used to describe the King’s forest, or park. In a sense, it suggests that families with this name had a close relationship with, or association to royal woods.

The name can also be found scattered across the United States. Around the time of the American Revolution, the large influx of people from Europe created many anglicised versions of the surnames.

What's clear is that the surname Faulkney is strongly rooted in Anglo-Saxon heritage. The meaning of the name is indicative of a bygone era of forestry ties and noble living that long preceded the modern age.

Faulkney: Where does the name Faulkney come from?

The last name Faulkney is most commonly found today in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. In the U.S., the surname can be found in many states, but some of the states with the highest concentrations include New York, Massachusetts, and California. In the U.K., the name is primarily found in the south in Devon and Cornwall. Canada has much smaller numbers of the last name Faulkney, but is concentrated mostly on the west coast, in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. Finally, the name is most commonly found in Australia in the states of New South Wales and Victoria.

In the U.S., the last name Faulkney is noted as being of English origin, particularly of the counties Devon and Cornwall. This may be related to the fact that the name has significant concentrations in the UK in these counties. It is also possible that the name could have been taken to the US with some of the early settlers coming over from the UK.

The last name Faulkney is not particularly unusual or common, and its geographical distribution is generally quite limited. It continues to be a fairly rare name, even in areas in which it is concentrated, such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

Variations of the surname Faulkney

Falkney, Falckney, Faulckney and Falkeney are the variants and spellings of the same origin for the surname Faulkney. This surname is derived from the Old English word ‘fawkener’ which means fowler or birdcatcher. This type of profession was quite common among the early Anglo-Saxons. The variant Falkne is derived from the Old Norse word that means Falconer.

The surname Falkney originated in England and is one of the oldest recorded surnames in that country. It is also found in Scotland, Ireland and Wales. The earliest records of the name can be traced back to the 11th century when the priory of 'Falcone' was recorded in Sussex.

The Falkney family is descended from the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. In Ireland, the surname Falkney is derived from a Gaelic personal name meaning ‘son of Flac’ Another variant of the name, Faulkney, is of Norman-French origin, and means ‘little hawk’.

The Falkney family came to prominence in England during the medieval period where they gained considerable wealth and status, and held important positions in the Royal Court and military. During the 16th century they also established a branch in Ireland, settling in County Galway.

The Falkney family name has continued over the centuries and in various countries, and it to this day is a very common surname. Variant spellings of the name include Falcons, Faulkners, Falcknes, Faulkens, Fawkner and Fleckney. In modern times, this surname is still popular in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

Famous people with the name Faulkney

• John C.Faulkner: a Spanish-American educator and co-founder of Santa Fe Institute.
• William Faulkner: an American Nobel Prize-winning author, best known for his novels The Sound and the Fury and As I Lay Dying.
• Larry Faulkney: a retired American professional basketball player who played for several teams in the NBA between 1970 and 1974.
• Eugene Asa Faulkner: a famous American novelist who wrote the novel Light in August and was awarded the National Medal of the Arts.
• Francis Joseph Faulkner: a British surgeon and medical writer, best known for his work on the anatomy and physiology of the eye and ear.
• John Faulkney: a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League (NHL).
• Sara Jane Faulkner: an American singer, songwriter, and musician, and the lead vocalist of the band Semisonic.
• Justin Faulkner: an American professional drummer who has been frequently collaborating with The Roots, a hip-hop/neo-soul band.
• Pentecost Faulkner: an American concert pianist and organist, best known for his renditions of spiritual music.
• K.C. Faulkner: an American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for four seasons.

Other surnames

Faulkner