Franklin

The Franklin Family in North America. The Franklin family name dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. The name comes from when an early member worked as a landowner who was not a member of the nobility. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the Old French word fraunclein, which became frankeleyn in Old English, and denoted rank within the feudal system; a person who owned land but did not have the right to call himself a lord.