Faulkner

Faulkner is an occupational surname derived from the Old English word 'faulkner' or 'falkener,' meaning 'one who trains and hunts with falcons.' Falconry was a popular sport and means of hunting among the nobility and gentry in medieval Europe, making the role of a falconer a respected and specialized one. The surname would have been given to individuals who held this profession or to their descendants.

The transition from surname to first name is a relatively modern phenomenon, often occurring when a distinguished family name is adopted as a given name to honor an ancestor or to maintain a sense of family heritage. While it remains more common as a surname, its use as a first name has seen occasional popularity, particularly in the Southern United States, influenced by the fame of the author William Faulkner.