Where does “franklin” come from?
franklin (English) comes from Middle English frankelein, from Anglo-Norman fraunclein, from Old French fraunc, from Frankish Frankō, from Proto-Germanic frankô, from Proto-Indo-European prAng- — pole, stalk.
franklin (English): A freeholder, especially as belonging to a class...
Definitions
- A freeholder, especially as belonging to a class...
Ancestry of “franklin”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | frankelein | freeholder |
| 2 | Anglo-Norman | fraunclein | a landowner of free, but not noble birth |
| 3 | Old French | fraunc | free |
| 4 | Frankish | Frankō | a Frank |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | frankô | spear, javelin; a Frank |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | prAng- | pole, stalk |