NameCensus.

UK surname

Fall

An English topographic surname denoting someone who lived near a waterfall or a person who had fallen from grace.

In the 1881 census there were 642 people recorded with the Fall surname, ranking it #5,551 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 913, ranked #6,240, down from #5,551 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Corfe Mullen and Portland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Richmondshire, Caerphilly and Hambleton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fall is 918 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.2%.

1881 census count

642

Ranked #5,551

Modern count

913

2016, ranked #6,240

Peak year

1911

918 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fall had 642 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,551 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 913 in 2016, ranked #6,240.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 918 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Fall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fall surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fall 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 529 #4,745
1861 historical 711 #3,814
1881 historical 642 #5,551
1891 historical 777 #5,166
1901 historical 861 #5,313
1911 historical 918 #4,875
1997 modern 850 #6,239
1998 modern 882 #6,272
1999 modern 851 #6,479
2000 modern 847 #6,476
2001 modern 838 #6,415
2002 modern 885 #6,262
2003 modern 888 #6,150
2004 modern 895 #6,117
2005 modern 901 #6,026
2006 modern 899 #6,049
2007 modern 897 #6,101
2008 modern 877 #6,258
2009 modern 896 #6,293
2010 modern 903 #6,369
2011 modern 900 #6,322
2012 modern 902 #6,239
2013 modern 909 #6,302
2014 modern 902 #6,364
2015 modern 917 #6,239
2016 modern 913 #6,240

Geography

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Where Falls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Corfe Mullen, Portland and Osmotherley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Richmondshire, Caerphilly, Hambleton and South Lakeland. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Corfe Mullen Dorset
3 Portland Dorset
4 Osmotherley Yorkshire, North Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Richmondshire 006 Richmondshire
2 Caerphilly 023 Caerphilly
3 Hambleton 007 Hambleton
4 South Lakeland 011 South Lakeland
5 Hambleton 006 Hambleton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fall

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fall, 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 Fall surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Fall 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Fall is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fall 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

Fall falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fall is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Fall

The surname FALL originates from England and dates back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "falod," meaning a fallow or uncultivated field. The name likely referred to someone who lived near or worked on such land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Curia Regis Rolls of Worcestershire, England, from 1221, which mentions a Thomas de la Fale. The spelling variations in early records include Falle, Falegh, and Falley.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a survey of landowners in England, several individuals with the surname FALL are listed, such as Robert de la Fale in Oxfordshire and Walter de la Fale in Cambridgeshire.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain the surname FALL, as it predates the widespread use of hereditary surnames.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname FALL was Sir William Fall (c. 1350-1418), a prominent English landowner and military commander during the Hundred Years' War. He served under King Henry V and participated in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.

Another notable figure was Sir John Fall (c. 1465-1536), an English politician and member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. He served as Sheriff of Gloucestershire and was involved in the suppression of the Pilgrimage of Grace, a major uprising against the religious reforms of the Tudor period.

In the 16th century, the surname FALL was also found in Scotland, where it may have derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "fall," meaning a level or cultivated field. One example is Robert Fall (c. 1560-1637), a Scottish clergyman and theologian who served as the principal of the University of Glasgow.

Moving forward to the 17th century, we find John Fall (1625-1697), an English Puritan minister and writer who published several religious works and was known for his nonconformist views.

A more recent historical figure was Demetrius Fall (1786-1863), a Greek military officer and patriot who played a significant role in the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire in the early 19th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fall 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. Yorkshire leads with 164 Falls recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.63x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 164 2.63x
Dorset 107 25.95x
Hampshire 58 4.50x
Middlesex 57 0.91x
Lancashire 25 0.34x
Northamptonshire 23 3.89x
Durham 22 1.18x
Essex 22 1.77x
Warwickshire 22 1.39x
Glamorgan 17 1.55x
Surrey 17 0.56x
Buckinghamshire 11 2.90x
Sussex 10 0.94x
Leicestershire 9 1.29x
Kent 8 0.37x
Lincolnshire 8 0.80x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.94x
Wiltshire 8 1.44x
Selkirkshire 7 12.32x
Bedfordshire 6 1.84x
Cambridgeshire 6 1.51x
Devon 4 0.31x
Northumberland 4 0.43x
Shropshire 3 0.55x
Worcestershire 3 0.37x
Lanarkshire 2 0.10x
Monmouthshire 2 0.44x
Morayshire 2 2.05x
Suffolk 2 0.26x
Cornwall 1 0.14x
Cumberland 1 0.18x
Merionethshire 1 0.87x
Oxfordshire 1 0.26x
Royal Navy 1 1.34x
Staffordshire 1 0.05x
Wigtownshire 1 1.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portland in Dorset leads with 53 Falls recorded in 1881 and an index of 239.06x.

Place Total Index
Portland 53 239.06x
Christchurch 28 100.29x
Leeds 23 6.54x
Aston 19 4.36x
Corfe Mullen 15 1006.71x
Osmotherley 14 707.07x
Topcliffe 12 909.09x
Canford Magna 11 462.18x
Braunston 10 432.90x
Horton In Bradford 10 10.29x
Stoke Hammond 10 1282.05x
Wellingborough 10 33.66x
Southampton St Michael 9 212.26x
Armley 8 29.13x
Everton 8 3.37x
Littlebury 8 467.84x
Nottingham St Mary 8 3.65x
Patrck Brmptn Newton 8 720.72x
Winfrith Newburgh 8 386.47x
Arkendale 7 1707.32x
Clerkenwell London 7 4.72x
Holy Trinity 7 4.68x
Islington London 7 1.15x
Kirkhope 7 593.22x
Leyton 7 32.77x
Limehouse London 7 10.15x
Mile End Old Town 7 7.06x
Ripon 7 48.48x
Baildon 6 51.19x
Deptford St Paul 6 3.63x
Lambeth 6 1.10x
Middlesbrough 6 7.40x
Stockton On Tees 6 6.66x
Toxteth Park 6 2.38x
Willingdon 6 223.05x
Wyke Regis 6 101.35x
Ystradyfodwg 6 6.25x
Burbage 5 176.68x
Leicester St Margaret 5 2.94x
Llandaff 5 13.74x
Middle Rasen 5 261.78x
Portsea 5 1.98x
Scarborough 5 8.84x
Shipley 5 15.48x
Southampton All Sts 5 22.63x
Westerton 5 500.00x
York St Martin Le Grand 5 588.24x
Camberwell 4 1.00x
Chalgrave 4 212.77x
Clifton In York 4 30.72x
Dovercourt 4 91.74x
Eglwysilan 4 21.07x
Eling 4 30.67x
Leicester St Mary 4 7.11x
Melcombe Regis 4 23.41x
Merrington 4 111.11x
Paddington London 4 1.73x
Shoreditch London 4 1.47x
St Pancras London 4 0.79x
Aismunderby Cum 3 170.45x
Barrow In Furness 3 2.96x
Bethnal Green London 3 1.10x
Cassop 3 232.56x
Embleton 3 150.75x
Fordington 3 33.78x
Oswestry Town 3 17.26x
Rainton Cum Newby 3 352.94x
Seacroft 3 101.69x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 2.37x
Thorney 3 67.87x
York St Denis In 3 109.89x
Ampthill 2 41.15x
Bermondsey 2 1.07x
Compton Bassett 2 250.00x
Doddington 2 68.49x
Headingley Cum Burley 2 4.99x
Kidderminster Borough 2 4.17x
Liverpool 2 0.44x
Milton 2 62.50x
St Marylebone London 2 0.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 43
William 38
George 34
Thomas 24
Charles 13
Henry 13
James 11
Robert 11
Alfred 10
Richard 10
Joseph 9
Frederick 8
Walter 7
Edward 5
Fred 5
Albert 4
Arthur 4
Ernest 4
Harry 4
Herbert 4
Tom 4
Daniel 3
Peter 3
Edgar 2
Frank 2
Horace 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Alick 1
Allick 1
Bertram 1
Christopher 1
Eben.L. 1
Edwin 1
Erry 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Harrison 1
Issac 1
J. 1
Jas. 1
Joshua 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Micheal 1
Patrick 1
Septimus 1

FAQ

Fall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 642 people were recorded with the Fall surname. That placed it at #5,551 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 913 in 2016. That gives Fall a modern rank of #6,240.

What does the Fall surname mean?

An English topographic surname denoting someone who lived near a waterfall or a person who had fallen from grace.

What does the Fall map show?

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