NameCensus.

UK surname

Fallow

A surname derived from the Middle English word for plowed or cultivated land left unseeded.

In the 1881 census there were 206 people recorded with the Fallow surname, ranking it #12,596 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 195, ranked #19,921, down from #12,596 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stonehouse, Rochdale and Stockport. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Glassford, Quarter and Allanton and Windygates and Coaltown.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fallow is 358 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 5.3%.

1881 census count

206

Ranked #12,596

Modern count

195

2016, ranked #19,921

Peak year

1891

358 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fallow had 206 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,596 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 195 in 2016, ranked #19,921.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 358 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Fallow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fallow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fallow 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 198 #10,483
1861 historical 313 #8,103
1881 historical 206 #12,596
1891 historical 358 #9,655
1901 historical 210 #14,677
1911 historical 132 #19,313
1997 modern 240 #15,678
1998 modern 203 #17,949
1999 modern 205 #17,960
2000 modern 203 #18,043
2001 modern 184 #18,907
2002 modern 178 #19,671
2003 modern 172 #19,893
2004 modern 188 #18,919
2005 modern 196 #18,404
2006 modern 196 #18,512
2007 modern 206 #18,142
2008 modern 210 #18,052
2009 modern 210 #18,426
2010 modern 211 #18,774
2011 modern 216 #18,321
2012 modern 196 #19,463
2013 modern 203 #19,327
2014 modern 203 #19,504
2015 modern 193 #20,056
2016 modern 195 #19,921

Geography

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Where Fallows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stonehouse, Rochdale, Stockport, Glassford and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Glassford, Quarter and Allanton, Windygates and Coaltown, Strathaven South and Middlesbrough. 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 Stonehouse Lanark
2 Rochdale Lancashire
3 Stockport Cheshire
4 Glassford Lanark
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 039 County Durham
2 Glassford, Quarter and Allanton South Lanarkshire
3 Windygates and Coaltown Fife
4 Strathaven South South Lanarkshire
5 Middlesbrough 007 Middlesbrough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fallow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fallow

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Fallow 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

Fallow is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Fallow

The surname Fallow originated in England during the late medieval period, likely derived from the Old English word "fealu," meaning yellow or tawny. This could suggest that the name initially referred to someone with a yellowish or pale complexion or hair color.

The earliest recorded instances of the Fallow surname date back to the 13th century. In the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1273, a John Falue is mentioned, which is likely an early spelling variation of the name. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1297 list a Roger Faluw.

The Fallow surname is also linked to various place names in England, particularly those derived from the Old English word "falod," meaning fallow land or uncultivated field. Some examples include Fallow in Worcestershire, Fallow Fields in Staffordshire, and Fallow Park in Buckinghamshire.

Notable historical figures with the Fallow surname include Sir Thomas Fallow (1605-1681), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Berkshire during the reign of Charles II. Another prominent individual was Samuel Fallow (1730-1799), a British botanist and naturalist known for his contributions to the study of plant life in the Caribbean.

In the realm of literature, one of the earliest published works featuring the Fallow name is "The Fallow Deer" by John Fletcher, a Jacobean-era play first performed in 1616. Additionally, Henry Fallow (1836-1912), an English clergyman and author, wrote several religious works in the late 19th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Fallow surname was well-established in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire. Records from this period, such as parish registers and court rolls, frequently mention individuals with the Fallow surname.

Other notable individuals with the Fallow surname throughout history include William Fallow (1792-1868), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars, and Thomas Fallow (1825-1904), an English architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fallow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fallow 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 68 Fallows recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.88x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 68 2.88x
Lanarkshire 39 6.06x
Northumberland 27 9.12x
Yorkshire 19 0.96x
Middlesex 8 0.40x
Cheshire 6 1.37x
Durham 5 0.84x
Renfrewshire 5 3.24x
Staffordshire 4 0.60x
Buteshire 3 24.88x
Derbyshire 3 0.96x
Warwickshire 3 0.60x
Leicestershire 2 0.91x
Shropshire 2 1.16x
Surrey 2 0.21x
Sussex 2 0.60x
Argyllshire 1 1.81x
Cumberland 1 0.58x
Devon 1 0.24x
Hampshire 1 0.25x
Hertfordshire 1 0.73x
Midlothian 1 0.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Middlesbrough in Yorkshire leads with 10 Fallows recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.94x.

Place Total Index
Middlesbrough 10 38.94x
Little Lever 9 298.01x
Oldham 9 11.81x
Barony 8 4.91x
Pendleton In Salford 8 28.44x
Cambusnethan 7 48.99x
Hulme 7 14.20x
Lesmahagow 7 102.79x
Livesey 7 169.08x
Widnes 7 41.10x
Avondale 6 159.57x
Bradford 6 54.30x
Stonehouse 6 275.23x
Dewsbury 5 24.73x
Eastwood 5 52.63x
Longhurst 5 877.19x
Widdrington 5 704.23x
Berwick Upon Tweed 4 63.80x
Byker 4 27.34x
Castleton 4 16.96x
Tonge 4 80.81x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 5.81x
Birmingham 3 1.79x
Bramhall 3 164.84x
Derby St Peter 3 30.24x
Gateshead 3 6.77x
Longframlington 3 1071.43x
Rothesay 3 51.37x
Stockport 3 13.27x
Crook Billy Row 2 26.39x
Elswick 2 8.46x
Glassford 2 202.02x
Hackney London 2 1.79x
Huncote 2 645.16x
Islington London 2 1.04x
Kingston On Thames 2 8.59x
Lindfield 2 140.85x
Liverpool 2 1.39x
Maryhill 2 15.87x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 2.81x
Alnwick 1 19.65x
Blantyre 1 14.93x
Carham 1 129.87x
Chapel Allerton 1 33.90x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 2.67x
Crosscanonby 1 17.64x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.93x
Hawley 1 129.87x
Hitchin 1 16.16x
Holy Trinity 1 2.11x
Hornsey 1 3.97x
Jacobstowe 1 666.67x
Kensington London 1 0.90x
Kilchrenan 1 526.32x
Leeds 1 0.90x
Lilleshall 1 38.02x
Much Wenlock 1 62.89x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 6.51x
Pemberton 1 10.63x
Sculcoates 1 3.20x
St Pancras London 1 0.62x
Tynemouth 1 6.31x
Walsall Foreign 1 2.88x
Westminster St James 1 4.89x
Wolverhampton 1 1.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Elizabeth 8
Jane 5
Agnes 4
Margaret 4
Sarah 4
Alice 3
Catherine 3
Ellen 3
Kate 3
Annie 2
Deborah 2
Eliza 2
Isabella 2
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Bridget 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Honour 1
Janie 1
Jessy 1
Kity 1
Louisa 1
M. 1
Phoebe 1
Priscilla 1
Ruth 1
Sophia 1
Susannah 1
Teresa 1
Treasia 1
Winnifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 16
Thomas 11
James 9
William 6
Joseph 5
Patrick 3
Alexander 2
Charles 2
Edward 2
Patsey 2
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Cornelius 1
David 1
Frank 1
George 1
Heney 1
Henry 1
Martin 1
Michael 1
Percy 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Selby 1
Thos. 1
Walker 1

FAQ

Fallow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fallow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 206 people were recorded with the Fallow surname. That placed it at #12,596 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fallow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 195 in 2016. That gives Fallow a modern rank of #19,921.

What does the Fallow surname mean?

A surname derived from the Middle English word for plowed or cultivated land left unseeded.

What does the Fallow map show?

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