NameCensus.

UK surname

Faill

In the 1881 census there were 97 people recorded with the Faill surname, ranking it #20,127 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 106, ranked #29,927, down from #20,127 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Alloa, Govan Combination and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Lincolnshire, Newcastle upon Tyne and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Faill is 128 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.3%.

1881 census count

97

Ranked #20,127

Modern count

106

2016, ranked #29,927

Peak year

1998

128 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Faill had 97 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,127 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 106 in 2016, ranked #29,927.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 100 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Faill surname distribution map

The map shows where the Faill surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Faill surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Faill over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 53 #23,739
1861 historical 65 #25,618
1881 historical 97 #20,127
1891 historical 91 #25,239
1901 historical 100 #22,863
1911 historical 78 #25,013
1997 modern 125 #23,567
1998 modern 128 #23,828
1999 modern 127 #24,125
2000 modern 125 #24,351
2001 modern 119 #24,733
2002 modern 125 #24,492
2003 modern 119 #25,026
2004 modern 117 #25,448
2005 modern 114 #25,837
2006 modern 111 #26,565
2007 modern 110 #27,087
2008 modern 115 #26,635
2009 modern 128 #25,427
2010 modern 124 #26,582
2011 modern 118 #27,192
2012 modern 106 #29,187
2013 modern 107 #29,561
2014 modern 104 #30,365
2015 modern 101 #30,816
2016 modern 106 #29,927

Geography

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Where Faills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Alloa, Govan Combination, Gateshead, Glasgow and Elsdon. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Lincolnshire, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland and Stranraer East. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Alloa Clackmannan
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Elsdon Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Lincolnshire 022 North Lincolnshire
2 Newcastle upon Tyne 021 Newcastle upon Tyne
3 Northumberland 033 Northumberland
4 Northumberland 039 Northumberland
5 Stranraer East Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Faill

These lists show first names that appear often with the Faill surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Faill

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Faill, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Faill surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Faill household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Faill is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Faill is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Faill falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Faill is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Faill, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Faill families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Faill surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Northumberland leads with 35 Faills recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.87x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 35 24.87x
Durham 16 5.69x
Ayrshire 9 12.71x
Midlothian 7 5.52x
Stirlingshire 7 20.06x
Yorkshire 7 0.75x
Buteshire 6 104.71x
Lanarkshire 6 1.96x
Lancashire 3 0.27x
Kinross-shire 1 41.84x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Elsdon in Northumberland leads with 12 Faills recorded in 1881 and an index of 17142.86x.

Place Total Index
Elsdon 12 17142.86x
Byker 8 114.94x
Fawdon 8 6666.67x
Tanfield 8 238.81x
Ayr 7 209.58x
Coxlodge 7 654.21x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 7 13.73x
Bothkennar 6 576.92x
Govan 6 7.93x
Rothesay 6 215.83x
Sculcoates 6 40.38x
Gateshead 5 23.73x
Everton 3 8.39x
Westoe 3 18.81x
Largs 2 119.76x
Fossoway 1 243.90x
Kearby Cum Netherby 1 2000.00x
Stirling 1 22.73x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Faill surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Faill surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 6
John 5
Robert 5
George 4
James 4
Thomas 3
Joseph 2
Adam 1
Charles 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Faill households.

FAQ

Faill surname: questions and answers

How common was the Faill surname in 1881?

In 1881, 97 people were recorded with the Faill surname. That placed it at #20,127 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Faill surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 106 in 2016. That gives Faill a modern rank of #29,927.

What does the Faill map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Faill bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.