Fawkes

Fawkes is a proper noun used as both a surname and a given name. It is most widely associated with historical figures and fictional characters and is used in popular culture to name mythical creatures and symbolic items.

Guy Fawkes (1570–1606) was a member of the Gunpowder Plot, a failed conspiracy to blow up the English Parliament and the king in 1605. The plot was uncovered on the eve of the State Opening; Fawkes was captured, tortured, and executed. The date is commemorated annually in Britain as Guy Fawkes Night or Bonfire Night.

In literature and media, Fawkes is the name of Albus Dumbledore’s phoenix in J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Phoenixes are legendary birds that can be reborn from ashes, and Fawkes is noted for loyalty and for healing tears that can cure injuries and aid in difficult battles.

The name Fawkes is also associated with the Guy Fawkes mask, a stylized face worn by protesters and popularized by the graphic novel and film V for Vendetta. The mask has become a symbol of anti-establishment movements worldwide.