Falkus

This unusual name derives from the Olde French personal name Fau(l) que(s) or the Olde German "Falco" meaning "falcon". The name was introduced into England by the Normans after the Conquest of 1066 and gave rise to a wide variety of surnames. The first recorded in England being Tomas Falch the 1182 "Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire". One, Walter Falc appears in the 1221 "Assize court Rolls of Worcestershire" and a William Faukes in the 1273 "Hundred Rolls of Norfolk". Other spellings have included Falk (1275), Fauke (1305) also Fakes and Faukys (1327). In the modern idiom, the name has at least twelve spelling variations including: Fawke(s), Faux, Falco, Falk(s)us, Fake etc.. On February 17th 1634 one, John Faux, aged 36, embarked from London on the ship "Hopewell" bound for the Barbadoes. He was one of the earliest recorded namebearers to settle here. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Roger Faux. which was dated 1443, in the Cartulary of Oseney Abbey, Oxfordshire. during the reign of King Henry VI, known as the Founder of Eton, 1422 - 1461. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.