NameCensus.

UK surname

Falconer

An occupational surname referring to a person who breeds, trains, or hunts with falcons or hawks.

In the 1881 census there were 3,590 people recorded with the Falconer surname, ranking it #1,258 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,195, ranked #1,299, down from #1,258 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Elgin and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Arbroath Harbour, Whitehill and Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Falconer is 5,205 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.7%.

1881 census count

3,590

Ranked #1,258

Modern count

5,195

2016, ranked #1,299

Peak year

2014

5,205 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Falconer had 3,590 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,258 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,195 in 2016, ranked #1,299.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,281 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Falconer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Falconer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Falconer 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 2,544 #1,165
1861 historical 2,667 #1,098
1881 historical 3,590 #1,258
1891 historical 3,836 #1,248
1901 historical 4,281 #1,318
1911 historical 1,011 #4,501
1997 modern 4,743 #1,379
1998 modern 4,898 #1,389
1999 modern 4,932 #1,387
2000 modern 4,903 #1,390
2001 modern 4,711 #1,411
2002 modern 4,884 #1,394
2003 modern 4,799 #1,381
2004 modern 4,866 #1,358
2005 modern 4,881 #1,332
2006 modern 4,953 #1,318
2007 modern 4,967 #1,327
2008 modern 5,075 #1,314
2009 modern 5,101 #1,335
2010 modern 5,198 #1,340
2011 modern 5,155 #1,330
2012 modern 5,044 #1,330
2013 modern 5,139 #1,330
2014 modern 5,205 #1,321
2015 modern 5,204 #1,306
2016 modern 5,195 #1,299

Geography

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Where Falconers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Elgin, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Arbroath Harbour, Whitehill, Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood, Strutherhill and The Glens. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Elgin Elgin
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Arbroath Harbour Angus
2 Whitehill South Lanarkshire
3 Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood South Lanarkshire
4 Strutherhill South Lanarkshire
5 The Glens Dundee City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Falconer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Falconer

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Falconer, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Falconer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Falconer household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Falconer is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Falconer is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Falconer falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Falconer 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 Falconer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Falconer

The surname Falconer originated in medieval England and Scotland. It is an occupational surname derived from the Old French word 'fauconer', which means a person who tended to and trained falcons for hunting. The name first arose in the early 12th century when falconry became a popular sport among the nobility.

In England, the earliest recorded instance of the surname Falconer dates back to the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed a William le Fauconer in Oxford. The name also appeared in various tax records and court rolls throughout the 13th and 14th centuries, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk.

In Scotland, the Falconer surname has a long and distinguished history. One of the earliest recorded Scottish Falconers was Sir David Falconer, who was a prominent knight and courtier during the reign of King David II in the mid-14th century. The Falconer family later acquired lands in Fife and Kincardineshire, becoming a prominent clan in those regions.

The surname Falconer has also been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One such person was Sir Robert Falconer (c. 1350-1418), a Scottish knight and ambassador who served under King Robert III and played a crucial role in negotiating the release of King James I from English captivity.

Another notable Falconer was Ranald Erskine Falconer (1821-1891), a Scottish scholar and theologian who served as the Principal of the University of Edinburgh from 1880 until his death. He was a renowned expert on biblical studies and played a significant role in the development of higher education in Scotland.

In the literary world, Hugh Falconer (1808-1865) was a Scottish paleontologist and botanist who made important contributions to the study of fossil mammals in India. His work helped establish paleontology as a scientific discipline in the Indian subcontinent.

The Falconer surname has also been prominent in the United States, with one of the earliest recorded instances being John Falconer (c. 1577-1643), an English colonist who settled in Massachusetts Bay Colony and served as a deputy to the General Court of Massachusetts.

Overall, the surname Falconer has a rich and varied history, with its roots firmly planted in the medieval traditions of falconry and the nobility. It has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including knights, scholars, scientists, and colonists, contributing to the cultural and intellectual heritage of many nations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Falconer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Falconer 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. Lanarkshire leads with 518 Falconers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.60x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 518 4.60x
Midlothian 467 10.00x
Angus 373 11.55x
Aberdeenshire 260 8.06x
Morayshire 240 44.33x
Banffshire 125 17.29x
Kincardineshire 114 26.87x
Middlesex 112 0.32x
Inverness-shire 106 10.19x
Lancashire 96 0.23x
Perthshire 96 6.14x
Caithness 72 15.09x
Durham 67 0.65x
Surrey 67 0.39x
Fife 65 3.15x
Nairnshire 64 60.17x
Yorkshire 59 0.17x
Renfrewshire 58 2.15x
Northumberland 56 1.08x
Berwickshire 50 11.85x
Ayrshire 47 1.80x
Ross-shire 41 4.28x
Kent 38 0.32x
West Lothian 38 7.24x
Stirlingshire 31 2.41x
Sutherland 30 11.20x
Hampshire 28 0.39x
Clackmannanshire 22 7.65x
Dunbartonshire 18 1.92x
Derbyshire 17 0.31x
Carmarthenshire 15 1.02x
Selkirkshire 15 4.76x
Peeblesshire 13 7.93x
Sussex 13 0.22x
East Lothian 12 2.60x
Argyllshire 11 1.13x
Warwickshire 11 0.13x
Devon 9 0.12x
Gloucestershire 9 0.13x
Cheshire 8 0.10x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.15x
Royal Navy 7 1.69x
Somerset 7 0.12x
Huntingdonshire 6 0.87x
Suffolk 6 0.14x
Wiltshire 6 0.19x
Essex 5 0.07x
Oxfordshire 5 0.23x
Shropshire 5 0.17x
Cumberland 4 0.13x
Dumfriesshire 4 0.52x
Worcestershire 4 0.09x
Buteshire 2 0.95x
Kinross-shire 2 2.27x
Monmouthshire 2 0.08x
Roxburghshire 2 0.32x
Cornwall 1 0.03x
Dorset 1 0.04x
Hertfordshire 1 0.04x
Isle of Man 1 0.15x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.20x
Leicestershire 1 0.03x
Northamptonshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 212 Falconers recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.29x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 212 11.29x
Barony 151 5.29x
Govan 148 5.31x
Glasgow 118 5.90x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 80 13.25x
Aberdeen Old Machar 76 11.28x
Elgin 73 69.31x
Liff Benvie 66 13.47x
South Leith 61 11.61x
Dundee 58 4.81x
Inverness 49 18.72x
Montrose 40 20.45x
Rathven 38 27.99x
Wick 35 22.71x
St Vigeans 32 18.36x
Cawdor 29 224.11x
Urquhart 28 109.46x
North Leith 27 12.50x
Peterhead 27 15.82x
Banff 26 41.42x
Glenbervie 26 223.75x
Camberwell 25 1.12x
Hamilton 24 7.64x
Inveresk 23 18.20x
Nairn 23 35.64x
Kirriemuir 22 27.62x
Arbroath 20 18.70x
Brechin 19 14.98x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 19 17.21x
Lauder 19 81.48x
Dalkeith 18 19.55x
Edinburgh St Marys 18 19.84x
Fetteresso 18 27.07x
Rothes 18 68.16x
West Greenock 18 3.71x
Limehouse London 17 4.44x
Islington London 15 0.44x
Old Monkland 15 3.35x
Shotton 15 58.53x
Blairgowrie 14 22.63x
Duffus 14 29.34x
Eddrachillis 14 76.92x
Kilmarnock 14 4.51x
Linlithgow 14 20.81x
St Andrews Lhanbryd 14 83.73x
Alloa 13 9.32x
Ardersier 13 52.10x
Boness 13 17.97x
Bothwell 13 4.25x
Chorlton On Medlock 13 1.98x
Dalziel 13 10.72x
Falkirk 13 4.32x
Forfar 13 7.44x
Leeds 13 0.67x
Maryculter 13 101.64x
Middlesbrough 13 2.89x
Thurso 13 17.47x
Elswick 12 2.90x
Fodderty 12 49.59x
Keith 12 15.57x
Lasswade 12 11.24x
Monquhitter 12 35.92x
Paisley Middle Church 12 7.63x
Stockton On Tees 12 2.40x
Aberlemno 11 92.20x
Abernyte 11 335.37x
Bishopwearmouth 11 1.24x
Cullen 11 41.06x
Forres 11 19.33x
Kensington London 11 0.57x
Killearnan 11 87.09x
Rattray 11 30.22x
Whitburn 11 14.51x
Auchtergaven 10 38.14x
Carmyllie 10 72.73x
Farr 10 43.29x
Fordyce 10 19.23x
Glenisla 10 105.82x
Hampstead London 10 1.84x
Kinloss 10 78.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 42
James 38
George 32
William 24
Robert 21
Alexander 17
Thomas 15
David 13
Charles 10
Henry 9
Archibald 6
Joseph 6
Peter 6
Edward 4
Frank 4
Walter 4
Angus 3
Daniel 3
Arthur 2
Chas.H. 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Geo. 2
Jas. 2
Jno. 2
Robt. 2
Sidney 2
Albert 1
Alex. 1
Alfred 1
Allen 1
Andrew 1
Benjamin 1
Bertram 1
Cecil 1
Colin 1
Douglas 1
E. 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Halbert 1
Harry 1
Hugh 1
Huther 1
Ian 1
Infant 1
J. 1
J.R. 1
Leslie 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Falconer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Falconer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,590 people were recorded with the Falconer surname. That placed it at #1,258 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Falconer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,195 in 2016. That gives Falconer a modern rank of #1,299.

What does the Falconer surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person who breeds, trains, or hunts with falcons or hawks.

What does the Falconer map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Falconer 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.