NameCensus.

UK surname

Fallen

A surname derived from the Middle English word "fallen," meaning someone who has stumbled or fallen.

In the 1881 census there were 210 people recorded with the Fallen surname, ranking it #12,440 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 114, ranked #28,515, down from #12,440 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Molesey, East and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include IZ09, IZ10 and Chesterfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fallen is 237 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 45.7%.

1881 census count

210

Ranked #12,440

Modern count

114

2016, ranked #28,515

Peak year

1861

237 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fallen had 210 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,440 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016, ranked #28,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 237 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Fallen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fallen surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fallen 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 114 #15,716
1861 historical 237 #10,359
1881 historical 210 #12,440
1891 historical 219 #13,974
1901 historical 179 #16,227
1911 historical 109 #21,611
1997 modern 97 #27,342
1998 modern 100 #27,619
1999 modern 95 #28,465
2000 modern 102 #27,425
2001 modern 101 #27,252
2002 modern 111 #26,291
2003 modern 95 #28,536
2004 modern 90 #29,481
2005 modern 92 #29,271
2006 modern 96 #28,946
2007 modern 107 #27,557
2008 modern 114 #26,796
2009 modern 116 #27,062
2010 modern 118 #27,404
2011 modern 113 #27,967
2012 modern 101 #30,078
2013 modern 105 #29,916
2014 modern 116 #28,253
2015 modern 114 #28,478
2016 modern 114 #28,515

Geography

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Where Fallens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Molesey, East, Edinburgh, Manchester and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to IZ09, IZ10, Chesterfield, Durno-Chapel of Garioch and North Castlehill and Thorn. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Molesey, East Surrey
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 IZ09 East Lothian
2 IZ10 East Lothian
3 Chesterfield 002 Chesterfield
4 Durno-Chapel of Garioch Aberdeenshire
5 North Castlehill and Thorn East Dunbartonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fallen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fallen

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fallen, 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 Fallen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Fallen 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, Fallen 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

Fallen is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fallen 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 Fallen 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 Fallen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Fallen

The surname Fallen is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place name that was likely derived from the Old English word "falod," meaning "fold" or "enclosure for animals."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Fallen can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1273, where a person named Richard de Falleden is mentioned. This suggests that the name may have originated in or near the Yorkshire area, potentially in a place called Falleden or a similar-sounding name.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Fallen appeared in various historical records and documents, including the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1279, which mentions a person named John de Faledon. This variation in spelling was common during that time period, as standardized spelling was not yet established.

In the 14th century, the name Fallen was found in the tax records of Lincolnshire, where a person named William Falleden was recorded in 1379. This suggests that the name had spread to other parts of England by that time.

One notable bearer of the surname Fallen was Sir John Fallen (c. 1420 - 1489), a wealthy merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London. He was known for his philanthropic endeavors and contributed to the rebuilding of the church of St. Michael Paternoster Royal in the City of London.

Another historical figure with the surname Fallen was Thomas Fallen (c. 1560 - 1632), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Islington, London. He was known for his scholarly works on religious topics.

In the 17th century, the name Fallen was found in various parish records across England, including in the counties of Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Devon. This suggests that the name had become more widely dispersed throughout the country by that time.

One notable bearer of the surname Fallen during this period was Sir John Fallen (c. 1630 - 1701), a member of the English gentry and a landowner in Gloucestershire. He served as a Justice of the Peace and was known for his involvement in local affairs.

Another individual with the surname Fallen was William Fallen (c. 1670 - 1745), a English merchant and ship owner who was involved in the transatlantic trade between England and the American colonies. He was based in Bristol and was considered a prominent figure in the city's mercantile community.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fallen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fallen 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. Lancashire leads with 53 Fallens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.17x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 53 2.17x
Lanarkshire 41 6.16x
Staffordshire 19 2.73x
Middlesex 13 0.63x
Dumfriesshire 10 22.00x
Stirlingshire 9 11.86x
Clackmannanshire 8 47.06x
Yorkshire 7 0.34x
Dunbartonshire 6 10.85x
Durham 6 0.98x
Surrey 6 0.60x
Cheshire 5 1.10x
Cumberland 5 2.82x
Hampshire 4 0.95x
Warwickshire 4 0.77x
Ayrshire 3 1.95x
Derbyshire 3 0.93x
Angus 2 1.05x
Denbighshire 2 2.57x
Midlothian 2 0.73x
Gloucestershire 1 0.25x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.36x
Royal Navy 1 4.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 18 Fallens recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.93x.

Place Total Index
Govan 18 10.93x
Hampton London 12 355.03x
Glasgow 11 9.31x
Annan 10 255.75x
Walsall Foreign 10 27.86x
Blackburn 9 13.85x
Sutton 9 109.89x
Alloa 8 97.09x
Preston 8 12.24x
Wolverhampton 8 14.98x
Barony 7 4.16x
Slamannan 7 168.27x
Bonhill 6 67.57x
East Molesey 6 257.51x
Gorton 6 26.13x
Heckmondwike 6 91.46x
Blantyre 5 72.15x
Caldewgate 5 51.49x
Over Darwen 5 25.63x
Manchester 4 3.64x
Runcorn 4 38.20x
Beith 3 65.22x
Liverpool 3 2.02x
Sunderland 3 27.75x
Whittington 3 67.26x
Dundee 2 2.81x
Elton 2 23.70x
Elvet 2 45.25x
Gresford Gwersyllt 2 82.99x
Hulme 2 3.92x
Millbrook 2 18.83x
Much Woolton 2 60.42x
St Ninians 2 26.60x
Aston 1 0.70x
Birkdale 1 16.18x
Birmingham 1 0.58x
Crook Billy Row 1 12.76x
Darfield 1 53.76x
Eastham 1 163.93x
Eccleston In Prescot 1 8.16x
Edgbaston 1 6.22x
Edinburgh New 1 46.73x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.90x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 1 13.53x
Holdenhurst 1 9.04x
Pennington In Leigh 1 21.32x
Portsea 1 1.21x
Royal Navy 1 4.77x
Shoreditch London 1 1.12x
Snenton 1 9.17x
Sutton Coldfield 1 18.32x
Wolstanton 1 4.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Jane 8
Margaret 6
Elizabeth 5
Ann 4
Sarah 4
Bridget 3
Alice 2
Amey 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Clare 1
Edith 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Evelyn 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Infant 1
Kate 1
Lily 1
Lucy 1
Maria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 11
Thomas 10
Michael 8
James 5
Joseph 5
Martin 4
Edward 3
George 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Henry 2
Owen 2
William 2
Alfred 1
Daniel 1
Ernest 1
Ezra 1
Fred 1
Matthew 1
Miche. 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Timothy 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Fallen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fallen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 210 people were recorded with the Fallen surname. That placed it at #12,440 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fallen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016. That gives Fallen a modern rank of #28,515.

What does the Fallen surname mean?

A surname derived from the Middle English word "fallen," meaning someone who has stumbled or fallen.

What does the Fallen map show?

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