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No, no! You pose a great question, Anon! …A great question that has already been asked long ago to the point where Blog Mod cannot find it in the archives and cannot give you a cheap copy-pasted answer! Instead, I will replicate this same answer to the best of my abilities. It’s a rather long explanation/theory so brace yourself for this multiple amount of text! :D

You are correct in stating that her last name has never been mentioned! …At least for the US release. So, as far as those who’ve played the US version are concerned, Claire does not have a last name. However, in the Layton Wikia, Claire does have a last name — but it is revealed to be spelled differently: Claire Foley, as opposed to Folly.

Knowing this, two questions should emerge:

• Where did this last name come from?
• Why are they spelled differently?

First off, where did it come from? Well, Blog Mod has a theory! …Blog Mod does not know if this is a bullet proof one so before I sound like a huge derp, I encourage everyone to share it with us if you have any criticism, opposing ideas and other proofs!

Putting that aside, I can’t say much for the UK version (Lost Future) since I never played it before… But my guess is that Claire did have a last name in the original Japanese version of the game that did not transfer over to the US version for whatever reason. AND, the reason why some US/UK fans still recognize her last name is because, well, some Layton fans are/were more active in the Japanese fandom way before Unwound/Lost Future was released (irrelevant tidbit: these more old school fans once knew the third Layton game as The Last Time Travel which is a rough translation of the Japanese title for it — 2008 baby!). They might have found out about her last name by playing the Japanese version of the game itself (by being able to read Japanese pretty fluently) and/or by simply being involved in the Japanese fandom and seeing her surname everywhere. But without an official English translation.. I’m guessing that Folly and Foley are some fan translated spellings (in Japanese, I think her name would be spelled something like クレア・フォリ [Ku-re-a ・ Fo-ri] or some other variation).

Blog Mod herself has only heard of Claire’s last name in other people’s posts and Tumblr tags as well so even though there are two spellings, I keep with “Claire Folly” for consistency’s sake. Although I may consider adding in “Claire Foley” in my tags since I have two tags for Henry and Sharon’s last names (Redole and Leidle) which are also fan translations since Mask Of Miracles hasn’t been released outside of Japan yet.

Again, this is only Blog Mod’s best guess and if anyone else can debunk or verify it, please share it with us!! Because no one has yet. :’D

Sorry I can’t give you a real answer but thanks for re-asking this. C:

Oh, BUT IT WAS SO CUTE!!! And so well drawn!! I couldn’t pass up on reblogging it! X’) <33

and no, THANK YOU!! :D raah, BlogMod is flattered!! *v*