franklin

franklin · noun¹

1. Frankish · derived from*-ling“-ling”
2. Old French · derived from-lein“-ling”
3. Frankish · derived from*Frankō“Frank”
4. Old French · derived fromfraunc“free”
5. Anglo-Norman · derived fromfraunclein“a landowner of free, but not noble birth”
6. Middle English · inherited fromfrankelein“freeholder”
7. English todayfranklin

From Middle English frankelein (“freeholder”), from Anglo-Norman fraunclein (“a landowner of free, but not noble birth”), from Old French fraunc (“free”), from Frankish *Frankō (“Frank”, literally “freeman”) + Old French -lein (“-ling”), from Frankish *-ling (“-ling”). More at frank, -ling.

Franklin · proper noun, noun²

1. Middle English · derived fromfrankelein“freeholder”
2. English todayFranklin

From Middle English frankelein (“freeholder”), see franklin. The place names are mostly named after American statesman Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790).

Words from the same roots