Feakin Family History

The variant of Falcon can be observed by comparing Robertus Faucon' from 1381 in Poll Tax (Saddington, Leics) with Willm Facon recorded in 1607 in IGI (Saddington, Leics). The diphthong found in Middle English faucon has undergone a simplification to /a:/, transitioning to early Modern English /ɛ:/, which is typically spelled as a or ea.

The resulting form, Facon, has generally evolved into Fakin and Feakin. This development is considered the most probable source of the name in Northants. In contrast, there is no documented history of Falcon and its variants in Kent, where Feakin is more likely to originate from a variation of Ficken.

The Middle English Fikin underwent a lengthening and lowering of the vowel sound, producing Fekin. This transformation illustrates the linguistic evolution within the region. It is also noteworthy that the name Feakins clearly relates to this family name and has been assimilated into the broader naming tradition.