NameCensus.

UK surname

Falk

An occupational surname referring to a falconer or someone who hunts with falcons and hawks.

In the 1881 census there were 126 people recorded with the Falk surname, ranking it #17,245 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 346, ranked #13,291, up from #17,245 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, London parishes and Hull Holy Trinity. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include City of London, Salford and Gateshead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Falk is 354 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 174.6%.

1881 census count

126

Ranked #17,245

Modern count

346

2016, ranked #13,291

Peak year

2014

354 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Falk had 126 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,245 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 346 in 2016, ranked #13,291.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 278 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Falk surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Falk surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Falk 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 29 #28,082
1861 historical 50 #27,636
1881 historical 126 #17,245
1891 historical 133 #19,870
1901 historical 247 #13,238
1911 historical 278 #12,038
1997 modern 334 #12,591
1998 modern 350 #12,537
1999 modern 342 #12,829
2000 modern 346 #12,670
2001 modern 334 #12,789
2002 modern 328 #13,186
2003 modern 309 #13,559
2004 modern 305 #13,752
2005 modern 298 #13,895
2006 modern 304 #13,797
2007 modern 308 #13,791
2008 modern 302 #14,069
2009 modern 321 #13,770
2010 modern 314 #14,258
2011 modern 315 #14,131
2012 modern 319 #13,898
2013 modern 351 #13,159
2014 modern 354 #13,153
2015 modern 349 #13,189
2016 modern 346 #13,291

Geography

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Where Falks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, London parishes, Hull Holy Trinity, Paddington and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to City of London, Salford, Gateshead, Allerdale and Wycombe. 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 St George in the East London (East Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
4 Paddington London (West Districts)
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 City of London 001 City of London
2 Salford 010 Salford
3 Gateshead 008 Gateshead
4 Allerdale 010 Allerdale
5 Wycombe 020 Wycombe

Forenames

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First names often paired with Falk

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Falk

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Falk surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Falk 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Falk 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

Falk is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Falk falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Falk 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Falk

The surname Falk has its origins in Germany and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "falke," which means "falcon." This name was likely given to someone who was associated with falconry, either as a falconer or someone who bred falcons.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Falk can be found in medieval German records and documents from the 12th and 13th centuries. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Dietrich Falk, a German nobleman who lived in the late 12th century.

During the High Middle Ages, the name Falk was particularly prevalent in regions such as Bavaria and Saxony. It was also found in areas of what is now Poland and the Czech Republic, which were part of the Holy Roman Empire at the time.

In the 14th century, the Falk name appeared in the Berne Shaking Book, a medieval manuscript that recorded legal transactions and disputes in the Swiss city of Berne. This suggests that the name had spread to other parts of German-speaking Europe by that time.

One of the most notable historical figures bearing the surname Falk was Johann Daniel Falk, a German naturalist and botanist who lived from 1768 to 1826. He made significant contributions to the study of plant life and was a pioneer in the field of horticulture.

Another prominent individual with the Falk surname was Adolph Falk, a German-American banker and philanthropist who lived from 1818 to 1901. He played a crucial role in the development of the banking industry in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was known for his charitable endeavors.

In the Netherlands, the Falk surname was sometimes spelled as "Valck" or "Valke," reflecting the Dutch language's preference for the "v" sound over the German "f." One notable Dutch bearer of this name was Jacob Valcke, a 17th-century painter known for his portraits and genre scenes.

In England, the Falk surname can be traced back to the 16th century, likely originating from German or Dutch immigrants who brought the name with them. One famous English bearer of the Falk name was Samuel Falk, a 19th-century industrialist and philanthropist who lived from 1826 to 1892.

As the Falk name spread across Europe and beyond, it was often anglicized or adapted to local languages and spellings, such as "Falck" in Scandinavia or "Falk" in Russia and Eastern Europe. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remained rooted in its association with falconry and the German word "falke."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Falk families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Falk 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. Middlesex leads with 58 Falks recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.68x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 58 4.68x
Northumberland 14 7.60x
Cheshire 8 2.93x
Gloucestershire 6 2.47x
Bedfordshire 5 7.80x
Staffordshire 5 1.20x
Surrey 5 0.83x
Durham 4 1.09x
Yorkshire 4 0.33x
Lancashire 3 0.20x
Perthshire 3 5.40x
Dorset 2 2.46x
Kent 2 0.47x
Lincolnshire 2 1.01x
Monmouthshire 2 2.23x
Glamorgan 1 0.46x
Midlothian 1 0.60x
Norfolk 1 0.53x
Stirlingshire 1 2.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newcastle On Tyne St in Northumberland leads with 12 Falks recorded in 1881 and an index of 125.65x.

Place Total Index
Newcastle On Tyne St 12 125.65x
St George In East London 11 94.42x
Hammersmith London 10 32.78x
Kensington London 8 11.62x
Paddington London 7 15.37x
Bethnal Green London 6 11.15x
Over 6 215.83x
Westbury On Severn East 6 109.29x
Burton Upon Trent 5 51.12x
Studham 5 1428.57x
Manningham 4 26.46x
Bow London 3 19.02x
Kenmore 3 454.55x
Lambeth 3 2.78x
Mile End Old Town London 3 11.38x
Shoreditch London 3 5.59x
Stranton 3 24.17x
Toxteth Park 3 6.03x
Birkenhead 2 9.17x
Bromley London 2 7.34x
Great Grimsby 2 15.91x
Hackney London 2 2.88x
Sherborne 2 83.68x
Camberwell 1 1.26x
Cardiff St Mary 1 8.42x
Chelsea London 1 2.68x
Cramond 1 79.37x
Grangemouth 1 1666.67x
Heigham 1 9.78x
Islington London 1 0.83x
Lee 1 16.29x
Lewisham 1 4.44x
Merton 1 94.34x
Newport 1 23.42x
North Shields 1 27.17x
Poplar London 1 4.28x
South Shields 1 30.49x
St Woollos 1 10.01x
Tynemouth 1 10.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emily 4
Sarah 4
Ann 3
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Amelia 2
Annie 2
Leah 2
Rachel 2
Rebecca 2
Ada 1
Alexandre 1
Amy 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Christine 1
Clara 1
Elizabeth 1
Elizabetha 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Flora 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Hilda 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
Louisa 1
Lucera 1
Margret 1
Matilda 1
Nellie 1
Phebe 1
Rachael 1
Similia 1
Therese 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 3
Arthur 2
Christian 2
Henry 2
Joseph 2
Morris 2
Nephi 2
William 2
Albert 1
Ancy 1
Benjamin 1
Bernhard 1
Carl 1
Charles 1
Edward 1
Edwd 1
Emil 1
Emily 1
Eugen 1
Felix 1
Frederick 1
Gerald 1
Henley 1
Henrich 1
Herbert 1
Herman 1
Hermann 1
Isaac 1
Ivan 1
James 1
Johan 1
John 1
Jos.J. 1
Julian 1
Lewis 1
Lionel 1
Markey 1
Monty 1
Moses 1
Oscar 1
Oskar 1
Oswald 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Salis 1
Samuel 1
Theodore 1
Thi... 1

FAQ

Falk surname: questions and answers

How common was the Falk surname in 1881?

In 1881, 126 people were recorded with the Falk surname. That placed it at #17,245 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Falk surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 346 in 2016. That gives Falk a modern rank of #13,291.

What does the Falk surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a falconer or someone who hunts with falcons and hawks.

What does the Falk map show?

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