Fuller

Fuller is an English surname and, less commonly, a given name. It originates from the medieval occupation of a fuller, a craftsman who fulled cloth—an early process to cleanse, thicken, and shrink woolen fabric. The name spread with English colonists and is now common in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other English-speaking countries.

In addition to its use as a surname, Fuller appears in various place names and as part of brand names and institutions. The surname has produced several notable individuals, including Buckminster Fuller (R. Buckminster Fuller, 1895–1983), an American architect, designer, and futurist, and Margaret Fuller (1810–1850), also known as Margaret Fuller Ossoli, an American journalist, critic, and advocate for women’s rights.

Other uses include commercial entities such as the Fuller Brush Company, a manufacturer of cleaning tools, and various geographical locations that bear the name Fuller. The term continues to be encountered in literature, academia, and industry as both a family name and a toponym.

Overall, Fuller remains a common English surname with historical ties to textile trades, while also functioning as a given name in modern contexts and appearing in diverse geographic and branding contexts.