NameCensus.

UK surname

Franklyn

A surname derived from a medieval French variant of the Germanic name Franklin, meaning "free man."

In the 1881 census there were 167 people recorded with the Franklyn surname, ranking it #14,443 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 372, ranked #12,539, up from #14,443 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Aberdare. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees, Alva and Herefordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Franklyn is 410 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 122.8%.

1881 census count

167

Ranked #14,443

Modern count

372

2016, ranked #12,539

Peak year

1999

410 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Franklyn had 167 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,443 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 372 in 2016, ranked #12,539.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 250 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Franklyn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Franklyn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Franklyn 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 196 #10,573
1861 historical 154 #14,963
1881 historical 167 #14,443
1891 historical 202 #14,808
1901 historical 250 #13,136
1911 historical 218 #14,177
1997 modern 368 #11,719
1998 modern 402 #11,295
1999 modern 410 #11,246
2000 modern 405 #11,290
2001 modern 390 #11,420
2002 modern 402 #11,405
2003 modern 377 #11,762
2004 modern 372 #11,886
2005 modern 370 #11,875
2006 modern 362 #12,151
2007 modern 373 #12,005
2008 modern 382 #11,901
2009 modern 393 #11,886
2010 modern 396 #12,089
2011 modern 369 #12,600
2012 modern 353 #12,877
2013 modern 358 #12,952
2014 modern 360 #13,006
2015 modern 363 #12,793
2016 modern 372 #12,539

Geography

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Where Franklyns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, Aberdare and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kirklees, Alva, Herefordshire, Caerphilly and Havering. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Aberdare Glamorganshire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirklees 031 Kirklees
2 Alva Clackmannanshire
3 Herefordshire 010 Herefordshire, County of
4 Caerphilly 015 Caerphilly
5 Havering 006 Havering

Forenames

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First names often paired with Franklyn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Franklyn

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Franklyn, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Franklyn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Franklyn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Franklyn 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

Franklyn is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Franklyn falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Franklyn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Franklyn

The surname FRANKLYN is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "franc," meaning "free" or "freeman." The name first emerged in the 12th century, referring to individuals who were not bound to the land or a feudal lord, unlike serfs or villeins.

This surname is closely associated with the Norman conquest of England in 1066, as many Norman nobles and their retainers settled in the country, bringing their linguistic and cultural influences. The name FRANKLYN likely originated among these Norman settlers, who enjoyed greater freedoms and privileges compared to the native Anglo-Saxon population.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Franclin" or "Franclein," indicating its presence in various parts of the country shortly after the Norman conquest.

During the Middle Ages, the FRANKLYN surname was particularly prevalent in the southern counties of England, such as Kent, Sussex, and Hampshire. This may be attributed to the high concentration of Norman settlements in these areas, where the name took root and spread.

Notable historical figures bearing the FRANKLYN surname include:

1. William FRANKLYN (c. 1480 - 1556), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Middlesex in the mid-16th century. 2. Richard FRANKLYN (1603 - 1685), an English Puritan clergyman and writer who published several religious works during the 17th century. 3. Rosalind FRANKLYN (1662 - 1737), a notable English feminist and writer who advocated for women's rights and education in the early 18th century. 4. Benjamin FRANKLYN (1706 - 1790), a renowned American polymath, writer, inventor, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, though his surname is more commonly spelled as "Franklin." 5. Thomas FRANKLYN (1779 - 1856), an English architect and surveyor who designed several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

It is worth noting that variations in spelling were common in historical records, with the surname appearing as FRANKLYN, FRANKLIN, FRANCKLIN, or FRANCKLYN, among others. Additionally, some instances of the name may have derived from place names or locations, such as Franklin in Somerset or Franklyn's Green in Hertfordshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Franklyn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Franklyn 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. Essex leads with 22 Franklyns recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.80x.

County Total Index
Essex 22 6.80x
Middlesex 22 1.34x
Surrey 21 2.63x
Lancashire 16 0.82x
Glamorgan 14 4.91x
Gloucestershire 13 4.05x
Somerset 12 4.55x
Warwickshire 7 1.69x
Cambridgeshire 5 4.82x
Hampshire 5 1.49x
Yorkshire 5 0.31x
Kent 3 0.54x
Lincolnshire 3 1.15x
Monmouthshire 3 2.53x
Wiltshire 3 2.07x
Cheshire 2 0.55x
Northamptonshire 2 1.30x
Suffolk 2 1.00x
Sussex 2 0.72x
Channel Islands 1 2.06x
Cornwall 1 0.54x
Devon 1 0.29x
Pembrokeshire 1 1.92x
Shropshire 1 0.71x
Staffordshire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 11 Franklyns recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.51x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 11 10.51x
Aberdare 10 51.05x
Gloucester St John Baptist 8 384.62x
Dovercourt 7 614.04x
Hornchurch 7 440.25x
Bedminster 6 24.20x
Chelsea London 6 12.15x
Islington London 6 3.78x
Didsbury 5 193.80x
Doddington 5 657.89x
Droxford 5 390.63x
Richmond 5 44.68x
Toxteth Park 5 7.59x
Ardwick 4 22.81x
Battersea 4 6.63x
Leeds 4 4.36x
Kingsbury 3 340.91x
Leamington Priors 3 29.50x
Lyncombe Widcombe 3 43.42x
Romford 3 58.71x
Steeple Ashton 3 769.23x
Leyton 2 35.91x
Leyton Low 2 30.44x
Liverpool 2 1.69x
Oundle 2 116.28x
Sale 2 45.05x
Spalding 2 38.46x
St George Hanover Square 2 6.93x
Stapleton 2 32.79x
Swansea Town 2 8.55x
Tonbridge 2 9.92x
Walcot 2 14.23x
Westminster St James 2 11.88x
Aldringham 1 344.83x
Birmingham 1 0.73x
Brighton 1 1.79x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 1 34.13x
Cardiff St Mary 1 6.36x
Clifton 1 6.15x
Croydon 1 2.26x
Firsby 1 769.23x
Hackney London 1 1.09x
Hammersmith London 1 2.48x
Hastings St Mary 1 14.53x
Ipswich St Margaret 1 14.77x
Kensington London 1 1.10x
Maidstone 1 6.01x
Nether Hallam 1 4.55x
Newport 1 17.70x
Paddington London 1 1.66x
Pembroke St Mary 1 14.90x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 3.81x
Risca 1 44.84x
Roath 1 7.72x
Saltash 1 69.44x
Shoreditch London 1 1.41x
South Weald 1 36.10x
St Helier 1 6.33x
Stoke Upon Tern 1 192.31x
Upper Llanvrechva 1 54.35x
Westbury On Trym 1 9.18x
Westminster St John 1 5.01x
Weston 1 49.26x
Wolverhampton 1 2.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Elizabeth 5
Sarah 5
Louisa 4
Annie 3
Ellen 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Arabella 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Jane 2
(Mrs) 1
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Augusta 1
Bessie 1
Betsey 1
Clara 1
Dora 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Emeline 1
Evas 1
Evelyn 1
Flora 1
Frances 1
G. 1
George 1
Georgina 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Jeanette 1
Kate 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Marianne 1
Maryan 1
Maud 1
May 1
Rebecca 1
Selena 1
Sophia 1
Susannah 1
Sussanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
Henry 9
George 8
John 7
Thomas 7
Charles 4
Arthur 3
Francis 3
Harry 2
Herbert 2
James 2
Joseph 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Alfd.Chas. 1
Alfred 1
Burdett 1
C.J. 1
Derick 1
Edmund 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Fredr 1
Gilbert 1
Holland 1
Isaac 1
Lionel 1
Roland 1
Winfred 1

FAQ

Franklyn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Franklyn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 167 people were recorded with the Franklyn surname. That placed it at #14,443 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Franklyn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 372 in 2016. That gives Franklyn a modern rank of #12,539.

What does the Franklyn surname mean?

A surname derived from a medieval French variant of the Germanic name Franklin, meaning "free man."

What does the Franklyn map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Franklyn 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.