NameCensus.

UK surname

Frankland

A locational surname derived from an area once known for the freedoms granted to landowners.

In the 1881 census there were 2,218 people recorded with the Frankland surname, ranking it #2,003 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,318, ranked #2,811, down from #2,003 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, London parishes and Stranton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Craven, Wakefield and Scarborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Frankland is 3,082 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.5%.

1881 census count

2,218

Ranked #2,003

Modern count

2,318

2016, ranked #2,811

Peak year

1911

3,082 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Frankland had 2,218 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,003 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,318 in 2016, ranked #2,811.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,082 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Frankland surname distribution map

The map shows where the Frankland surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Frankland surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Frankland over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 1,524 #1,879
1861 historical 1,464 #1,938
1881 historical 2,218 #2,003
1891 historical 2,438 #1,932
1901 historical 2,777 #2,004
1911 historical 3,082 #1,692
1997 modern 2,414 #2,603
1998 modern 2,429 #2,676
1999 modern 2,456 #2,672
2000 modern 2,452 #2,663
2001 modern 2,400 #2,661
2002 modern 2,437 #2,681
2003 modern 2,341 #2,714
2004 modern 2,353 #2,706
2005 modern 2,312 #2,711
2006 modern 2,251 #2,772
2007 modern 2,297 #2,750
2008 modern 2,299 #2,771
2009 modern 2,337 #2,794
2010 modern 2,415 #2,772
2011 modern 2,363 #2,792
2012 modern 2,335 #2,777
2013 modern 2,376 #2,775
2014 modern 2,353 #2,817
2015 modern 2,338 #2,799
2016 modern 2,318 #2,811

Geography

Back to top

Where Franklands are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, London parishes, Stranton, Bradford and Keighley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Craven, Wakefield, Scarborough and Ribble Valley. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 London parishes London 3
3 Stranton Durham
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Keighley Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Craven 003 Craven
2 Wakefield 027 Wakefield
3 Scarborough 001 Scarborough
4 Ribble Valley 003 Ribble Valley
5 Ribble Valley 001 Ribble Valley

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Frankland

These lists show first names that appear often with the Frankland surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Frankland

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Frankland, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Frankland surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Frankland household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Frankland is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Frankland is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Frankland falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Frankland is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Frankland, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Frankland

The surname Frankland originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words 'franc', meaning free or liberal, and 'land', referring to a piece of land or territory. The name likely referred to someone who owned or possessed a substantial amount of freehold land.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Frankland dates back to the 13th century in Yorkshire, England. One notable reference is found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which recorded landowners and their properties for tax purposes. The name was also mentioned in the Feet of Fines, a collection of legal documents from the 13th to 16th centuries.

During the 14th century, the surname Frankland appeared in various spellings such as Frankelande, Franklond, and Frankelond. These variations were common due to the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping at the time. The name was also associated with several place names, including Frankland in Durham and Franklands in Gloucestershire.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was John Frankland, who lived in Yorkshire in the late 13th century. Another notable individual was Sir Thomas Frankland (c. 1450-1528), a Member of Parliament for Yorkshire during the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII.

In the 17th century, Sir Henry Frankland (1604-1683) was a prominent figure in the English Civil War, serving as a colonel in the Parliamentarian army. His grandson, Sir Thomas Frankland (1683-1735), was a renowned diplomat and politician who served as the British Ambassador to Portugal.

During the 18th century, Sir Thomas Frankland (1718-1784), the grandson of the aforementioned diplomat, was a notable Member of Parliament and landowner in Yorkshire. He was also a keen collector of art and antiquities.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Sir Robert Frankland-Russell (1784-1849), a British naval officer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Thirsk. He was also a prominent landowner in Yorkshire and campaigned for the abolition of slavery.

The surname Frankland has also been associated with various places and landmarks throughout England, including Frankland Park in Haydon Bridge, Northumberland, and the Frankland Estate in Thirsk, Yorkshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Frankland families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Frankland surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 977 Franklands recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.55x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 977 4.55x
Lancashire 712 2.77x
Durham 115 1.79x
Middlesex 83 0.38x
Surrey 83 0.79x
Norfolk 60 1.80x
Westmorland 35 7.36x
Suffolk 21 0.80x
Nottinghamshire 19 0.65x
Cheshire 17 0.36x
Essex 17 0.40x
Kent 17 0.23x
Lincolnshire 9 0.26x
Northumberland 9 0.28x
Sussex 7 0.19x
Berkshire 5 0.31x
Caernarfonshire 4 0.46x
Cambridgeshire 4 0.29x
Glamorgan 4 0.11x
Worcestershire 4 0.14x
Derbyshire 2 0.06x
Devon 2 0.04x
Somerset 2 0.06x
Staffordshire 2 0.03x
Brecknockshire 1 0.23x
Cornwall 1 0.04x
Cumberland 1 0.05x
Hampshire 1 0.02x
Hertfordshire 1 0.07x
Midlothian 1 0.03x
Royal Navy 1 0.39x
Warwickshire 1 0.02x
Wiltshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blackburn in Lancashire leads with 79 Franklands recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.56x.

Place Total Index
Blackburn 79 11.56x
Accrington 49 20.98x
Leeds 47 3.88x
Clitheroe 38 50.26x
Manningham 37 14.00x
Stranton 35 16.14x
Guiseley 33 120.13x
Preston 32 4.66x
Haworth 29 56.89x
Whitby 29 40.12x
Southwark St George Martyr 28 6.43x
Bingley 26 19.03x
Habergham Eaves 25 10.65x
Marrick 25 1101.32x
Great Little Marsden 23 19.55x
Barrow In Furness 22 6.30x
Keighley 22 9.62x
Sowerby In Halifax 22 31.37x
Yeadon 22 45.42x
Horton In Bradford 21 6.27x
Chatburn 19 331.59x
Stockton On Tees 19 6.12x
Great Bolton 18 5.29x
Lambeth 18 0.95x
Northowram 18 11.97x
Bury 17 5.79x
Darlington 17 6.84x
Skelmanthorpe 17 73.43x
Burnley 16 7.40x
Armley 15 15.86x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 15 20.45x
Bowland Forest Low 15 666.67x
Chorlton On Medlock 15 3.68x
Egton 15 159.57x
Norland 14 95.11x
Ovenden 14 14.67x
Walthamstow 14 9.10x
Atherton 13 13.91x
Halifax 13 4.13x
Helperby 13 274.84x
Trawden 13 80.90x
Bramley In Bramley 12 14.61x
Chapel Allerton 12 37.38x
Drighlington 12 38.40x
Kendal 12 13.78x
Pendleton In Salford 12 3.92x
Salford 12 1.59x
Wilsden 12 54.47x
Wombwell 12 19.19x
Baildon 11 27.23x
Barrowford Booth 11 38.71x
Camberwell 11 0.80x
Houghton Le Spring 11 24.71x
Islington London 11 0.52x
Lower Booths 11 23.90x
Oldham 11 1.33x
Walton On Hill 11 7.91x
Bradford 10 1.93x
Clayton Le Moors 10 20.06x
Glaisdale 10 122.25x
Great Harwood 10 21.54x
Hackney London 10 0.82x
Holbeck 10 7.04x
Huncoat 10 145.14x
Liversedge 10 10.47x
Middlesbrough 10 3.58x
Warcop 10 187.62x
Wilpshire 10 483.09x
Barton Upon Irwell 9 4.65x
Beccles 9 21.21x
Billington 9 85.88x
Bow London 9 3.27x
Freckleton 9 106.64x
Gomersal 9 8.99x
Grewelthorpe 9 235.60x
Heigham 9 5.04x
Reepham With Kerdiston 9 229.59x
St George Hanover Square 9 2.36x
St Marylebone London 9 0.78x
Styrrup 9 207.85x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Frankland surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 191
Elizabeth 84
Sarah 75
Jane 57
Ann 46
Ellen 45
Margaret 39
Hannah 33
Alice 31
Annie 28
Eliza 26
Martha 26
Emma 18
Emily 15
Isabella 15
Maria 14
Clara 12
Charlotte 11
Florence 11
Louisa 11
Ada 10
Agnes 10
Catherine 10
Harriet 10
Susannah 10
Nancy 9
Ruth 9
Betty 8
Edith 8
Grace 8
Rebecca 7
Anne 6
Esther 6
Fanny 6
Amelia 5
Eleanor 5
Ethel 5
Lucy 5
Maud 5
Elizth. 4
Harriett 4
Isabel 4
Julia 4
Kate 4
Laura 4
Lilly 4
Margret 4
Rachel 4
Janet 3
Jessie 3

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Frankland surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 168
William 115
Thomas 89
George 67
James 63
Robert 50
Joseph 46
Richard 39
Henry 38
Charles 31
Benjamin 19
Edward 18
Albert 17
Alfred 17
Arthur 17
Francis 12
Samuel 11
David 10
Frederick 10
Tom 10
Walter 9
Fred 8
Herbert 8
Wm. 8
Edwin 7
Mark 7
Stephen 6
Ambrose 5
Daniel 5
Ernest 5
Frank 5
Harry 5
Christopher 4
Fredrick 4
Jas. 4
Jno. 4
Ralph 4
Thos. 4
Willie 4
Wilson 4
Alexander 3
Bernard 3
Geo. 3
Joe 3
Robt. 3
Sam 3
Vincent 3
Gabriel 2
Martin 2
Mathew 2

FAQ

Frankland surname: questions and answers

How common was the Frankland surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,218 people were recorded with the Frankland surname. That placed it at #2,003 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Frankland surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,318 in 2016. That gives Frankland a modern rank of #2,811.

What does the Frankland surname mean?

A locational surname derived from an area once known for the freedoms granted to landowners.

What does the Frankland map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Frankland bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.