† fulkern.

Etymology: < Fulker, former variant in English of Fugger , the surname of a family of wealthy mercantile bankers and venture capitalists from Augsburg, Germany: see fogger n.¹ and discussion at that entry. Compare also fooker n., fowker n., and slightly earlier pettifogger n.¹Fulker is attested as a variant of the surname in English texts from the mid 16th cent.; compare the following (in quot. 1546, apparently referring to a member of the Fugger family, probably Anton Fugger):1546 in Acts Privy Council (1890) I. 525 Letters were addressed to Mr. Vaughan signifieng..that he shuld receive herwith thobligacion of the bargayne renewed with the Fulker.1549 in Acts Privy Council (1890) II. 325 Fraunces Foxall and Henry Saxey had warrant to deliver to Sir Mauryce Dennys, knight, of the money of Anthony Fulker [Anton Fugger], xm^lu, for the defrayment of the affayres of the Kinges Majestie in his charge.