What does Franklin mean?

Definitions for Franklin
ˈfræŋk lɪnfranklin

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word Franklin.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. Franklin, John Hope Franklinnoun

    United States historian noted for studies of Black American history (born in 1915)

  2. Franklin, Benjamin Franklinnoun

    printer whose success as an author led him to take up politics; he helped draw up the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution; he played a major role in the American Revolution and negotiated French support for the colonists; as a scientist he is remembered particularly for his research in electricity (1706-1790)

  3. franklinnoun

    a landowner (14th and 15th centuries) who was free but not of noble birth

Wiktionary

  1. Franklinnoun

    A one-hundred-dollar bill, which carries the portrait of Benjamin Franklin.

  2. Franklinnoun

    Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), American author, scientist, inventor, and diplomat, and one of the Founding Fathers.

  3. Franklinnoun

    transferred from the surname, partly in honor of Benjamin Franklin.

  4. franklinnoun

    A freeholder, especially as belonging to a class of landowners in the 14th and 15th century ranking below the gentry.

  5. Etymology: From frankelein, from fraunclein, from fraunc, of origin, from * + -lein, from *, from -lingaz. Cognate with Franko, -ling. More at frank, -ling.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Franklinnoun

    A steward; a bailiff of land. It signifies originally a little gentleman, and is not improperly Englished a gentleman servant.

    Etymology: from frank.

    A spacious court they see,
    Both plain and pleasant to be walked in,
    Where them does meet a franklin fair and free. Fai. Queen.

ChatGPT

  1. franklin

    A Franklin is a term originating from the Middle Ages, referring to a free landowner who was not of noble birth. The word 'Franklin' also represents an old unit of electrical charge. It is also a common surname and may refer to the well-known American polymath, Benjamin Franklin. It can also refer to several places named after individuals bearing the surname, including Franklin County or the city Franklin in numerous U.S. states.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Franklinadjective

    an English freeholder, or substantial householder

  2. Etymology: [OE. frankelein; cf. LL. franchilanus. See Frank, a.]

Wikidata

  1. Franklin

    Franklin is a city in, and county seat of, Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. It is a southern suburb of Nashville. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of 62,487.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Franklin

    frangk′lin, n. an old English freeholder, free from feudal servitude to a subject-superior. [Low L. francus, frank.]

Military Dictionary and Gazetteer

  1. franklin

    In the southern part of Tennessee, near the boundary-line of Alabama. A severe engagement took place here between the Union and Confederate forces under Gens. Schofield and Hood respectively, November 30, 1864.

Suggested Resources

  1. franklin

    Song lyrics by franklin -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by franklin on the Lyrics.com website.

Surnames Frequency by Census Records

  1. FRANKLIN

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Franklin is ranked #251 in terms of the most common surnames in America.

    The Franklin surname appeared 120,621 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 41 would have the surname Franklin.

    54.3% or 65,594 total occurrences were White.
    38.7% or 46,753 total occurrences were Black.
    2.7% or 3,353 total occurrences were of two or more races.
    2.7% or 3,257 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
    0.8% or 1,001 total occurrences were American Indian or Alaskan Native.
    0.5% or 651 total occurrences were Asian.

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of Franklin in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of Franklin in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of Franklin in a Sentence

  1. Pat Melton:

    ( Franklin County detectives) have done an absolute incredible job, and I'm thrilled to have been a part of Franklin County.

  2. John David Dingell:

    We saw some rather great things, the President( Franklin D. Roosevelt) declared war the day after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor( December 8, 1941). We saw Winston Churchill on the 26th of December, 1941, when he came to address United States Congress.

  3. Ted Widmer:

    Each Roosevelt was a really admired figure throughout the Clinton White House. We talked about history all the time, we felt like Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt were friendly spirits.

  4. Matthew Costello:

    It was brief, but Franklin Roosevelt turned Blue Room into Franklin Roosevelt office for meetings, and used the Yellow Oval upstairs in the Executive Residence for Franklin Roosevelt private office.

  5. Ariana Grande:

    And Aretha Franklin was like,' Well, I don't know how to do that so I'm just gon na send it to you,' and then, like, four months later I got a package with a CD, but it was nice. It was great.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

Franklin#1#4156#10000

Translations for Franklin

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"Franklin." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 6 Mar. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/Franklin>.

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