Frank History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
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Etymology of Frank

What does the name Frank mean?

The distinguished surname Frank was most likely brought to England in the wake of the Norman Conquest. The name is of two possible origins; firstly, it is derived from the Norman personal name "Franc," which was originally an ethnic name for one of Frankish race. Alternatively, the name may be derived from the Old French word "franc," meaning "liberal, generous." In this case, the name would have been initially bestowed as a nickname either on someone who was generous or in an ironic way on someone who was stingy.

Early Origins of the Frank family

The surname Frank was first found in the Domesday Book; bearers of the name Frank were granted lands in Shropshire, Yorkshire, Norfolk, and Surrey. The name appears with some frequency in various counties between the 11th and 14th centuries; early bearers of the name include Ricardus filius Franke, who was living in London in 1188, and Ricardus Franc, who was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of Essex in 1201.

Early History of the Frank family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Frank research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1304, 1613, 1627, 1640, 1664, 1775, 1827 and 1911 are included under the topic Early Frank History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Frank Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Frank, Franks, Franke, Frankes and others.

Early Notables of the Frank family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

Mark Frank (1613-1664), a British theologian, John Frank (c.1640), a British bookseller, Calvin Frink (c.1775), an army surgeon, and Frederick Bacon Frank (1827-1911), a prominent landowner who held e...

Frank World Ranking

In the United States, the name Frank is the 453^rd most popular surname with an estimated 62,175 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Frank is ranked the 879^th most popular surname with an estimated 6,080 people with that name. 2 And in France, the name Frank is the 4,118^th popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Frank family to Ireland

Some of the Frank family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Frank migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Frank Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Daniel Frank, who immigrated to Virginia in 1622
Robert Frank, who arrived in Virginia in 1651 4
Catherine Frank immigrated to Virginia in 1695
Cath Frank, who arrived in Virginia in 1695 4

Frank Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Michal Frank, who landed in New York in 1709 4
Johan Marten Frank, who arrived in New York in 1709 4
Johannes Conrad Frank, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1731 4
John Frank, who purchased land in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1731
Anna Frank, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Frank Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Hinr Frank, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1803 4
John George Frank, aged 12, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1805 4
Regina Barbara Frank, aged 18, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1805 4
Margaret Frank, aged 38, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1805 4
Paul Frank, aged 45, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1805 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Frank migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Frank Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

George Frank, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749
Elisabeth Frank, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757
Jacob Frank, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757
Marra Frank, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757
Maria Frank, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757

Frank Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Georg Michael Frank, who arrived in Quebec in 1852
Charles Frank, who was living in Ontario in 1871

Frank migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Frank Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Gabriel Hugh Frank, English labourer who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
Mr. Peter Frank, (b. 1784), aged 31, English sailor who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for life for theft, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
J. Friedrich Frank, a farmer, who arrived in South Australia in 1848 aboard the ship "Alfred" 6

Frank migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Frank Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

P Frank, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1843 aboard the ship St Paul
Johan G. Frank, aged 32, a farmer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Waitangi" in 1874
Carl Frank, aged 42, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Terpsichore" in 1876
Elisabeth Frank, aged 46, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Terpsichore" in 1876
Carl Frank, aged 15, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Terpsichore" in 1876
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Frank (post 1700) +

Jason David Frank (1973-2022), American actor and mixed martial artist, best known for his career as Tommy Oliver from the Power Rangers franchise
Joe Samuel Frank (1942-2022), American politician, Mayor of Newport News, Virginia (1996-2010), an Eagle Scout and was awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award in 2009
Dorothea Olivia Benton Frank (1951-2019), best-selling American novelist
William J. Frank, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Maryland, 2012
William Frank, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Illinois 2nd District, 1924
William Frank, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Tennessee 6th District, 1920
Walter C. Frank, American politician, Circuit Judge in Illinois 9th Circuit, 1925
Tom Frank, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1980
Thomas E. Frank, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Virginia, 1948
T. J. Frank, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 1888
... (Another 80 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Frank family +

Bismarck

Hans Frank (1920-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 7
Alfred Frank (1922-1941), German Matrosenobergefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 7

Halifax Explosion

Master Alister Frank (1916-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 8

Monongah Mine

Mr. Paul Frank (b. 1883), Polish coal miner who was in mine 6 at the Monongah Mine on 6th December 1907 when it exploded and collapsed; he died 9
Mr. Tony Frank (b. 1881), Italian coal miner who was in mine 6 at the Monongah mine on 6th December 1907 when it exploded and collapsed; he died 9

USS Arizona

Mr. Leroy George Frank, American Seaman First Class from Arkansas, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 10

USS Indianapolis

Rudolph Anthony Frank, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 11

The Frank Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Non nobis nati
Motto Translation: Born not for ourselves

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ALFRED 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848Alfred.htm
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
Monongah Mining Disaster retrieved on 8th August 2021. (Retrieved fromhttps://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/monongah.htm).
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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