Falk

This interesting surname with variant spellings Faulkes, Fawlks, Fawkes, Fakes, etc., derives from the Norman given Fau(l)ques, originally an Olde Germanic byname "Falco" meaning "Falcon". The surname dates back to the early 13th Century, (see below). Further recordings include one William Faukus (1251), "Cartularium Monasterii de Rameseia, Huntingdonshire", John Faukys (1327), "the Subsidy Rolls of Essex", and Robert Faukes (1327), "the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex". Parish records include Mary Faulkes who married John Spufford on July 8th 1629 at St. James, Clerkenwell, London. Sara Foulkes who was christened on June 1st 1634 at St. Giles, Cripplegate, London and Gabrill, son of John and Margrett Faulks who was christened on January 31st 1708 at St. Botolph without Aldergate, London. The most famous holder of the name was Guy Fawkes, a protestant who adopted Roman Catholicism, and was therefore held to be doubly guilty of the crime of (failing) to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605. Guy Fawkes was born in York in 1570, his house still stands, although now converted to a hotel near the "Minister". The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Geoffrey Faukes which was dated 1221, in the Transcripts of Charters relating to the Gilbertine Houses, during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. 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.