Fulkerson
A patronymic surname meaning “son of Fulk,” from a medieval personal name brought into English from continental Germanic roots.
The #5,444 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 48,309 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Fulkerson is a patronymic surname built from the medieval given name Fulk plus the English suffix -son, meaning “son of.” Fulk itself comes through Old French from an older Germanic name element related to folk or people, and in medieval use it became a common personal name in Norman and English records. So the surname originally meant “son of Fulk.”
History
The name would have formed in medieval England as hereditary surnames began to stabilize, especially in families descended from a man named Fulk, Fulk(e), or a related form. It is less common than many -son surnames because the base name Fulk was never among the most widespread English given names. The surname is found mainly in English-speaking countries today, especially the United States.
Origin
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Fun fact
Fulk was a genuine medieval given name, not just a surname base; it appears in English records and in the names of several historical nobles and churchmen.