UK surname
A surname derived from a place name referring to somewhere rocky or hilly.
In the 1881 census there were 17 people recorded with the Fale surname, ranking it #31,170 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 11, ranked #37,501, down from #31,170 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wivenhoe, Fingringhoe, East Donyland and East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fale is 149 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 35.3%.
1881 census count
17
Ranked #31,170
Modern count
11
2016, ranked #37,501
Peak year
1861
149 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Fale surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Fale surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 22 | #29,378 |
| 1861 | historical | 149 | #15,373 |
| 1881 | historical | 17 | #31,170 |
| 1891 | historical | 75 | #27,414 |
| 1901 | historical | 23 | #31,466 |
| 1911 | historical | 25 | #30,654 |
| 1997 | modern | 16 | #36,292 |
| 1998 | modern | 17 | #36,240 |
| 1999 | modern | 19 | #36,041 |
| 2000 | modern | 18 | #36,104 |
| 2001 | modern | 16 | #36,160 |
| 2002 | modern | 16 | #36,267 |
| 2003 | modern | 12 | #36,715 |
| 2004 | modern | 11 | #36,969 |
| 2005 | modern | 11 | #37,065 |
| 2006 | modern | 13 | #36,902 |
| 2007 | modern | 13 | #36,990 |
| 2008 | modern | 11 | #37,270 |
| 2009 | modern | 10 | #37,446 |
| 2010 | modern | 12 | #37,307 |
| 2011 | modern | 17 | #36,839 |
| 2012 | modern | 13 | #37,169 |
| 2013 | modern | 14 | #37,127 |
| 2014 | modern | 15 | #37,070 |
| 2015 | modern | 13 | #37,251 |
| 2016 | modern | 11 | #37,501 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wivenhoe, Fingringhoe, East Donyland, East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H, Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton and Elham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wivenhoe | Essex |
| 2 | Fingringhoe, East Donyland | Essex |
| 3 | East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H | Gloucestershire |
| 4 | Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton | Somerset |
| 5 | Elham | Kent |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Fale surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fale, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Fale surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Fale household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Fale is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fale is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Fale, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname FALE has its origins in Denmark, where it first emerged in the 9th century AD. The name is derived from the Old Danish word "fala", meaning "to walk" or "to wander". It is believed that the name was initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone who was known for their wandering or traveling habits.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the FALE surname can be found in the Liber Vitae, an ancient manuscript from the 9th century that served as a record of donations made to the church. The name appears as "Falekin", likely a diminutive form of the original surname.
In the 11th century, the FALE name was documented in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book entry mentions a landowner named "Falec" in the county of Sussex.
During the 12th century, the surname FALE began to spread across various parts of Europe, including Germany and the Netherlands. In the Dutch province of Friesland, the name was often spelled as "Falen" or "Faal".
One notable figure bearing the FALE surname was Hans Fale, a Danish explorer who is believed to have been one of the first Europeans to set foot in Greenland in the late 10th century. Another prominent individual was Johanna Fale, a Dutch painter from the 17th century who was renowned for her still-life compositions.
In the 18th century, the FALE surname gained recognition in the literary world with the English poet and essayist John Fale (1704-1782). His works, which included satirical pieces and critiques of contemporary society, earned him a respected place among the literary figures of his time.
The 19th century saw the rise of a Swedish-American entrepreneur named Carl Fale (1825-1897), who made a significant contribution to the development of the steel industry in the United States. His innovative techniques and business acumen helped establish him as a prominent figure in the American industrial landscape.
Another notable bearer of the FALE surname was the French artist and sculptor Auguste Fale (1848-1921), whose works were exhibited in prestigious venues such as the Salon des Artistes Français and the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fale surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Essex leads with 4 Fales recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.99x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Essex | 4 | 12.99x |
| Worcestershire | 4 | 19.64x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 6.25x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 1.28x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 10.12x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 5.66x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.88x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 4.78x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Donyland in Essex leads with 4 Fales recorded in 1881 and an index of 5714.29x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| East Donyland | 4 | 5714.29x |
| Feckenham | 4 | 1739.13x |
| Romsey Infra | 2 | 1818.18x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 11.89x |
| Gulval | 1 | 909.09x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 49.02x |
| St Peters | 1 | 400.00x |
| Westminster St | 1 | 172.41x |
| Wisbech St Peter | 1 | 200.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Fale surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Fale surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Fale households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 6 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Ag Lab Wife | 1 |
| Bookkeeper | 1 |
| Clerk Insurance Office | 1 |
| Footman | 1 |
| Mariners Wife | 1 |
| Mate | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 17 people were recorded with the Fale surname. That placed it at #31,170 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 11 in 2016. That gives Fale a modern rank of #37,501.
A surname derived from a place name referring to somewhere rocky or hilly.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fale bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.