NameCensus.

UK surname

Fallis

An English habitational name referring to a place called Fallas or Falaise.

In the 1881 census there were 34 people recorded with the Fallis surname, ranking it #28,837 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 185, ranked #20,652, up from #28,837 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Sevenoaks and Middlesbrough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fallis is 198 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 444.1%.

1881 census count

34

Ranked #28,837

Modern count

185

2016, ranked #20,652

Peak year

2009

198 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fallis had 34 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,837 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 185 in 2016, ranked #20,652.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 88 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Fallis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fallis surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Fallis 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 28 #28,274
1861 historical 22 #31,140
1881 historical 34 #28,837
1891 historical 62 #28,991
1901 historical 88 #24,270
1911 historical 88 #24,041
1997 modern 166 #19,797
1998 modern 173 #19,821
1999 modern 175 #19,798
2000 modern 186 #19,055
2001 modern 173 #19,635
2002 modern 184 #19,275
2003 modern 182 #19,215
2004 modern 188 #18,919
2005 modern 177 #19,598
2006 modern 181 #19,466
2007 modern 188 #19,204
2008 modern 195 #18,958
2009 modern 198 #19,145
2010 modern 195 #19,762
2011 modern 192 #19,797
2012 modern 179 #20,679
2013 modern 178 #21,108
2014 modern 181 #21,033
2015 modern 178 #21,149
2016 modern 185 #20,652

Geography

Back to top

Where Fallis' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, Sevenoaks, Middlesbrough and Epping Forest. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 021 Barnsley
2 Sevenoaks 016 Sevenoaks
3 Middlesbrough 010 Middlesbrough
4 Epping Forest 015 Epping Forest
5 Barnsley 017 Barnsley

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Fallis

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Fallis

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Fallis is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fallis is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fallis 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 Fallis 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Fallis

The surname Fallis is of Scottish origin, with its roots traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "falaise," meaning a cliff or steep hill. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or on a cliff or hillside.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fallis can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which were a series of homage rolls documenting those who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during his invasion of Scotland. The name appears as "de Falouss," indicating its connection to a particular location or estate.

In the 14th century, the name was recorded in various spellings, including "Falous," "Fallous," and "Fallowes," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling that were common during that era. These variations likely stemmed from the name's association with different places or regions within Scotland.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Fallis throughout history include Sir Robert Fallis (c. 1535-1602), a Scottish nobleman and landowner who played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation. Another notable figure was John Fallis (1760-1837), a Scottish-born emigrant to Canada who became a prominent farmer and landowner in Upper Canada (modern-day Ontario).

In the 17th century, the name Fallis appeared in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and property holdings in England and Wales commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that the name had spread from Scotland to other parts of the British Isles by that time.

Other notable individuals with the surname Fallis include:

1. William Fallis (1798-1875), a Canadian educator and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada. 2. James Fallis (1823-1898), a Canadian businessman and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 3. Robert Fallis (1857-1941), a Canadian businessman and philanthropist who contributed significantly to the development of the city of Toronto. 4. Margaret Fallis (1892-1983), a Canadian author and educator known for her work in promoting Canadian literature and culture. 5. Gordon Fallis (1919-2003), a Canadian aircraft engineer and designer who made significant contributions to the development of the Avro Arrow supersonic interceptor aircraft.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Fallis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fallis 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 27 Fallis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.36x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 27 7.36x
Channel Islands 4 36.43x
Middlesex 3 0.81x
Durham 2 1.81x
Cheshire 1 1.22x
Dumfriesshire 1 12.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishop Thornton in Yorkshire leads with 7 Fallis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 11666.67x.

Place Total Index
Bishop Thornton 7 11666.67x
Leeds 5 24.12x
Knaresborough 4 689.66x
St Helier 4 112.04x
Ecclesall Bierlow 3 40.16x
Knottingley 3 461.54x
Barnsley 2 52.77x
Stockton On Tees 2 37.66x
Towerof London London 2 1666.67x
Bromley London 1 12.27x
Closeburn 1 526.32x
Gomersal 1 58.48x
Liscard 1 68.03x
Scriven Cum Tentergate 1 714.29x
Skipton 1 86.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 4
Mary 3
Sarah 3
Hannah 2
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Emely 1
Fanny 1
Harriett 1
Maria 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 3
William 3
John 2
Robert 2
Alexander 1
Edwin 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
George 1
Joshua 1

Top occupations

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 Fallis households.

FAQ

Fallis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fallis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 34 people were recorded with the Fallis surname. That placed it at #28,837 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fallis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 185 in 2016. That gives Fallis a modern rank of #20,652.

What does the Fallis surname mean?

An English habitational name referring to a place called Fallas or Falaise.

What does the Fallis map show?

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