Franklin
Middle English: from Anglo-Latin francalanus, from francalis ‘held without dues’, from francus ‘free’ (see frank1).
wiktionary
From Middle English frankelein(“freeholder”), from Anglo-Norman fraunclein(“a landowner of free, but not noble birth”), from Old French fraunc(“free”), from Frankish *frankō(“Frank”, literally “freeman”) + Old French -lein(“-ling”), from Frankish *-ling(“-ling”). More at frank, -ling.
etymonline
Franklin
Middle English Frankeleyn, attested as a surname from late 12c., from Anglo-French fraunclein "freeholder, land-owner of free but not noble birth," from Old French franc "free" (see frank (adj.)); probably with the Germanic suffix also found in chamberlain.
The Franklin stove (1787) so called because it was invented by U.S. scientist/politician Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790). In early 19c., lightning rods often were called Franklins from his famous experiments with lightning in the 1750s.
