Surname Fowlke - Meaning and Origin
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Fowlke: What does the surname Fowlke mean?
The surname Fowlke is a variant spelling of the name Foulke, which itself is an English and Welsh patronymic surname derived from the medieval given name foll, thought to come from the Old Germanic name Fulc, meaning ‘people’ or ‘folk’. It was a popular name among medieval noblemen in Europe, and is derived from a Latin phrase meaning ‘people’s protection’.
The first recorded use of the surname Foulke dates back to early 13th century in England. For example, Rogerus Fulc is mentioned in the Staffordshire recorded in 1280, and in The Hundred Rolls of 1273, William Foulke is listed in Oxfordshire. The Foulkes later spread to Ireland and America.
The surname Fowlke is a variant spelling of Foulke, which is essentially a shortened version of the name Foulkes, another variant spelling which was used in parts of England and Wales. Variations of these names have also been found in Germany, such as Fokle, and in Scandinavian countries as Fjulke or Folke.
The Foulke name has many variations, most commonly used in Europe during the Middle Ages. Although its original meaning is unclear, the name is thought to be derived from a Latin phrase meaning ‘people’s protection’ or ‘defender of the people’, making it an apt choice for many medieval noblemen. The name can be spelt in a variety of ways, such as Foulke, Fowle, Fowlke, and Foulkes, and has spread to countries all over the world.
Order DNA origin analysisFowlke: Where does the name Fowlke come from?
The last name Fowlke is not a very common name, but it does appear in several countries around the world. The United States, Canada, England, and Scotland all have records of the surname within their respective genealogy databases. According to an Ancestry.com user account, the name first originated in Scotland in the 1700s.
In the United States, specifically, the surname is spread across the country. According to the United States Census Bureau, Fowlke families can be found in both urban and rural areas. In the northeast, cities such as New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts each have a few Fowlke families. Moving to the south, Fowlke is scattered in several states such as Georgia, Louisiana, and North Carolina. In the west, the states of California, Oregon, and Washington house some Fowlke families.
In the early 2000s, the number of Fowlke families in the United States was estimated to be 17,742, with the greatest number of Fowlke households in Texas. However, exact figures from before or after the early 2000s are not available.
The surname Fowlke isn’t overly common, but it isn’t unheard of either. With some research, it is possible to find Fowlke families living all over the world.
Variations of the surname Fowlke
The surname Fowlke is believed to have originated from an Old English name, Foulke or Fulke, which means “son of the wolf.” The ancestor of this surname may have been a fierce wolf-like hunter or one who lived near a wolf den. The surname has also been recorded in many different spellings and variants over the centuries, including Foulke, Fulke, Foulkes, Fulk, Fouke, Foulkeson, Fowkes, Folke, Folkerson, and Foulkison.
In the United States, the Fowlke surname has been found in many records since the 1600s. Early records include Peter Folke, a resident of Virginia who was granted 600 acres in Surry County in 1637, and Adam Foulk, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1728. The surname has also been practiced in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, and is believed to have first spread as a result of the Norman conquest of England from 1066 onwards.
In the present day, Fowke, Foulke, Foulkes and Foulks are the most popular spellings of the surname in the United States, where the spelling Fowke is most commonly found. In England, the most popular spellings are Foulke and Foulkes, although Folke and Folks are also found. In Scotland, the name is mostly spelled Fowkes, while in Ireland it’s mostly spelled Foulks and Foulkison. There are also variants of the spelling in other countries, such as Fouke in Germany, Fulk in France, and Fowke in Poland and Russia.
Famous people with the name Fowlke
- Courtney Fowlke: an American social media influencer, actress, singer, and dancer from New York.
- Meleah Fowlke: a professional fashion designer from New York.
- Samuel Fowlke: an American musician, songwriter, and producer based in Nashville, Tennessee.
- Christine Fowlke: the current Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation.
- Arthur Fowlke: a Ghanaian religious leader and pastor of the International Central Gospel Church.
- Esther Fowlke: an Australian hardware and computer engineer with a specialization in artificial intelligence.
- Peter Fowlke: a British entrepreneur and businessman, currently serving as the Chairman of the Finance Group Capital.
- Pamela Fowlke: a Canadian novelist, playwright, and journalist.
- Leslie Fowlke: a Brazilian physician and military surgeon, currently serving as the Chief of the Specialized Care Unit for the Military Hospital of Rio de Janeiro.
- Alan Fowlke: a retired American Air Force major, currently working as an environmental consultant in Texas.