The Faulkner surname
In the 2010 U.S. Census, 36,466 people carried this name — #952 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 8,090 people counted. That is up 3% from 35,389 in 2000.
What the name means
The meaning of the Faulkner surname
A surname originating as an occupation.
A variant of the Scottish surname Falconer.
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Faulkner» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.
In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890
Ireland registered 35 births for the Faulkner name in 1890.
They were registered in all four provinces, most of all in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 1,600 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. 17 of them were indexed under other spellings of the name.
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they were born, 1890
Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.
In Argentina’s national register
At least 443 people named Faulkner live in Argentina.
RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Santa Fe.
Where it concentrates, on the mapWhere they live today
RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.
In Switzerland’s population statistics
37 people named Faulkner live in Switzerland.
They live in 8 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Zurich.
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they live today
Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.
In France’s civil register
France’s register of deaths holds 22 people named Faulkner.
Most of them — 20 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 1 département, most often Gironde.
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they were born
Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.
In the Nordic population registers
28 people named Faulkner is counted in Sweden.
Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.
Counted, by country
Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).
Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s
Faulkner was found among the farmers of 5 counties.
It was most frequent in Cheshire: 24 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 417. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.
Where it concentrates, on the mapPer 10,000 farmers, by county
H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.
In Scotland’s registers today
Faulkner was recorded 19 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.
That made it the 1203rd most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.
National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
In the first U.S. census, 1790
122 families named Faulkner, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.
Each family is counted by its head. About 706 people lived in those households, 5.8 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 12 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.
Families, by state
U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 239 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.
In print
Faulkner in American newspapers,
1909–1917.
Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 205,822 pages in all carry the name.
In print
Faulkner in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2010s.
55,706 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Faulkner. The most, 10,101, date from the 1930s. Queensland has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Western Australia, at 1.7 times its expected share.
Articles, by state
Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Faulkner.
Who carried it
People named Faulkner,
with a public archive behind them.
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George Faulkner 1699–1775 · printer -
Thomas Faulkner 1777–1855 · writer -
George Faulkner 1790–1862 -
Sandford C. Faulkner 1803–1874 · composer -
Charles J. Faulkner 1806–1884 · lawyer
Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped — Thomas Faulkner: Holmes, CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0); the others are in the public domain or CC0 · 241 lives in all are documented under this name.
In the public record
People named Faulkner,
in the records of 7 countries.
Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.
United States3,509 records
- U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 1,347
- New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 708
- Other U.S. records 1,454
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Example: U.S. war memorial War record Arnold Joe FaulknerBorn 1944; from Portland, Oregon. U.S. Navy, equipment operator; died in an accident 1966 in Ba Xugen, South Vietnam. Buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, California.
U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) -
Example: U.S. registration card, 1942 Military record Harry L. FaulknerBorn 1915 in North Carolina. Enlisted 1940 at Camp Battle New Bern; engineer from Craven County. U.S. Army veteran; died 1983, buried at Greenleaf Memorial Park, New Bern, North Carolina.
U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) -
Example: passenger manifest, 1903 Passenger record Bridget FaulknerArrived at New York in 1885 aboard the City of Montreal from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 23; servant. From Leitrim, Ireland; bound for New York.
U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
Showing 3 of 3,509 records for Faulkner in the United States.
Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).
Australia1,891 records
- Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 773
- Tasmanian Names Index 539
- Other Australian records 579
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Example: probate petition, 1848 Probate record Mary Ann FaulknerDied 1922 in New¿norfolk, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1922.
Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) -
Example: marriage register, 1911 Marriage record Emma Harriett FaulknerBorn 1879 in Launceston, Tasmania. Married 1898 in Ringarooma, Tasmania, aged 19.
Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) -
Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829 Transportation record George FaulknerTransported to New South Wales aboard the Eliza, arriving 1822; ticket of leave 1835. Native of Manchester.
Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)
Showing 3 of 1,891 records for Faulkner in Australia.
Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain).
Canada958 records
- Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 850
- Canadian Virtual War Memorial 27
- Other Canadian records 81
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Example: Canadian cemetery Burial record Florence Jane FaulknerKilled in the Halifax Explosion of 1917, aged 42; buried at Musquodoboit.
Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. -
Example: Canadian cemetery Burial record James Percy FaulknerBuried in 1963 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 76.
Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. -
Example: passenger manifest, 1903 Passenger record Jos FaulknerCame to Ontario in 1874 aboard the Polynesian, landing at Quebec, bound for Weston, Ontario; Irish.
Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
Showing 3 of 958 records for Faulkner in Canada.
Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).
United Kingdom84 records
- War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 54
- St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 26
- Other British records 4
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Example: burial register, 1858 Burial record Irenie Margaret FaulknerDied 1993, aged 52; buried at Strathblane Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.
Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. -
Example: probate petition, 1848 Probate record John Willliam FaulknerWill proved in 1939; of Rhos.On.Sea, Denbigh.
National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) -
Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919 War record William H. FaulknerDied 1919. Named in the roll of honour (1926).
National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
Showing 3 of 84 records for Faulkner in the United Kingdom.
Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).
New Zealand19 records
- Christchurch City cemetery records 14
- War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 2
- Other New Zealand records 3
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Example: burial register, 1858 Burial record Annie FaulknerDied 1973, aged 85; buried at Waimairi Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.
Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) -
Example: burial register, 1858 Burial record Raymond Arthur FaulknerDied 1997, aged 75; buried at Fairhall Cemetery, Marlborough.
Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) -
Example: roll of the war dead War record E. FaulknerNew Zealand Infantry. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.
National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
Showing 3 of 19 records for Faulkner in New Zealand.
Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).
France5 records
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Example: French death register, 1930 Death record Yvette Antoinette FaulknerBorn 1913 in Bordeaux; died 1998 in Lormont (Gironde).
Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte) -
Example: French death register, 1930 Death record Cornelius David FaulknerBorn 1925 in the United Kingdom; died 1992 in Lagny-sur-Marne (Seine-et-Marne).
Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
Showing 2 of 5 records for Faulkner in France.
Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).
Netherlands3 records
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Example: U.S. census, 1910 Population register William Arthur FaulknerIn the population register of 's-Gravenhage; born 1910 in Washington.
Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0) -
Example: U.S. census, 1910 Population register Emily Jane FaulknerIn the population register of Leeuwarden; born 1853.
Open Archives, AlleFriezen (CC BY 4.0)
Showing 2 of 3 records for Faulkner in the Netherlands.
Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).
Nearby in the index
Surnames next to Faulkner.
- Faucheux 613 · U.S. census
- Faude 131 · U.S. census
- Faul 2,916 · U.S. census
- Faulcon 660 · U.S. census
- Faulhaber 1,338 · U.S. census
- Faulk 11,656 · U.S. census
- Faur 275 · U.S. census
- Faura 151 · U.S. census
- Faure 578 · U.S. census
- Faurie 164 · U.S. census
- Faurot 493 · U.S. census
- Faus 544 · U.S. census
When the index is not enough
This page says where Faulkner is.
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