franklin

Franklin is a name used as both a given name and a surname in English-speaking countries. It derives from the medieval English term franklin, meaning a freeman or landholder with certain privileges, and later became a hereditary surname as well as a standalone given name.

Notable people with Franklin as a given name include Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd president. Aretha Franklin is a well-known bearer of Franklin as a surname, celebrated as a singer. Several other individuals with the name have played roles in politics, science, and the arts.

Geography: Numerous towns in the United States bear the name Franklin, including towns in Tennessee, Massachusetts, and Ohio. There are also several Franklin Counties. The Franklin River is a major river in southwestern Tasmania, Australia.

Historically significant uses include the Franklin stove, a metal-lined fireplace devised by Benjamin Franklin in the 18th century, and The Franklin Institute, a Philadelphia science museum and research center named for Franklin. The ill-fated Franklin Expedition sought the Northwest Passage and ended with the loss of two ships and all hands.

In popular culture, Franklin is the title character of the Canadian children's book series by Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark, later adapted into an animated television series. The name is also associated with various institutions, places, and fictional works that reference the historical figure Benjamin Franklin or the broader lineage of the name.