FRANKLIN WHITE

Transferred use of the surname, derived from Middle English frankeleyn ‘freeman’, denoting a member of a class of men who were not of noble birth but who were nevertheless freeholders. The vocabulary word is derived from Old French franc, meaning both ‘free’ and ‘Frankish’. The connection between freemen and Franks is reflected in the Late Latin term francalia, originally denoting lands held by Franks, which came to mean lands not subject to taxes. The given name is now quite common, especially in the United States, where it is often bestowed in honour of the statesman and scientist Benjamin Franklin (1706–90). A more recent influence was President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945).

English, Scottish, and Irish: from Middle English whit ‘white’, hence a nickname for someone with white hair or an unnaturally pale complexion. In some cases it represents a Middle English personal name, from an Old English byname, Hwīt(a), of this origin. As a Scottish and Irish surname it has been widely used as a translation of the many Gaelic names based on bán ‘white’ (see Bain 1) or fionn ‘fair’ (see Finn 1). There has also been some confusion with Wight.