NameCensus.

UK surname

Fallows

A topographic name referring to plowed fields or fallow land.

In the 1881 census there were 1,443 people recorded with the Fallows surname, ranking it #2,885 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,250, ranked #2,889, down from #2,885 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Stockport and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Staffordshire Moorlands and Burnley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fallows is 2,373 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 55.9%.

1881 census count

1,443

Ranked #2,885

Modern count

2,250

2016, ranked #2,889

Peak year

2010

2,373 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fallows had 1,443 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,885 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,250 in 2016, ranked #2,889.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,912 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Fallows surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fallows surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fallows 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 975 #2,863
1861 historical 970 #2,874
1881 historical 1,443 #2,885
1891 historical 1,551 #2,849
1901 historical 1,847 #2,845
1911 historical 1,912 #2,595
1997 modern 2,085 #2,945
1998 modern 2,275 #2,834
1999 modern 2,288 #2,844
2000 modern 2,280 #2,832
2001 modern 2,245 #2,812
2002 modern 2,268 #2,848
2003 modern 2,233 #2,823
2004 modern 2,243 #2,817
2005 modern 2,248 #2,777
2006 modern 2,225 #2,806
2007 modern 2,253 #2,789
2008 modern 2,281 #2,784
2009 modern 2,361 #2,771
2010 modern 2,373 #2,819
2011 modern 2,327 #2,828
2012 modern 2,283 #2,824
2013 modern 2,304 #2,850
2014 modern 2,316 #2,848
2015 modern 2,264 #2,877
2016 modern 2,250 #2,889

Geography

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Where Fallows' are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Staffordshire Moorlands, Burnley, South Lakeland and Stoke-on-Trent. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Stockport Cheshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 London parishes London 2
5 Middleton Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 008 Copeland
2 Staffordshire Moorlands 010 Staffordshire Moorlands
3 Burnley 010 Burnley
4 South Lakeland 011 South Lakeland
5 Stoke-on-Trent 012 Stoke-on-Trent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fallows

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fallows

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Fallows surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Fallows household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Fallows is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fallows is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fallows 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 Fallows is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Fallows

The surname Fallows originated in England during the medieval period, likely in the 13th or 14th century. It is derived from the Old English word "falwe" or "falewe," meaning yellowish-brown or fallow land. This suggests that the name may have been an occupational surname for someone who worked on fallow or uncultivated land.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical documents from the 13th century onwards. One notable example is the record of a John Falawes in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275. Additionally, the Hundred Rolls of 1273 mention a William de la Falwe, indicating a possible connection to a place name with a similar root.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Fallows was predominantly found in the counties of Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Warwickshire in the West Midlands region of England. Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form, with variants such as Fallow, Falloe, and Fallowell also appearing in historical records.

The Fallows surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was Sir James Fallows (c. 1465-1532), a prominent English lawyer and member of parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. Another notable figure was Robert Fallows (1619-1677), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Chaplain to King Charles II.

In the 18th century, John Fallows (1749-1819) was a prominent English engraver and sculptor, known for his work on medals and seals. Another individual of note was Samuel Fallows (1835-1922), an American bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church and a prominent educator who served as the president of several universities.

The Fallows surname has also been associated with various places and locations throughout England. For instance, the village of Fallow in Worcestershire likely derived its name from the same Old English root as the surname. Additionally, there are several farms and estates bearing the name Fallows or Fallow, further emphasizing the surname's connection to agricultural land.

While the Fallows surname may have had humble beginnings as an occupational name for those working on fallow land, it has since become a respected surname with a rich history and notable individuals who have carried it throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fallows families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fallows 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 709 Fallows' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.27x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 709 4.27x
Staffordshire 204 4.31x
Cheshire 138 4.46x
Warwickshire 59 1.67x
Shropshire 51 4.21x
Yorkshire 46 0.33x
Middlesex 44 0.31x
Derbyshire 35 1.60x
Suffolk 24 1.41x
Worcestershire 23 1.26x
Cumberland 19 1.58x
Northumberland 17 0.82x
Durham 14 0.34x
Leicestershire 11 0.71x
Surrey 11 0.16x
Dumfriesshire 6 1.94x
Monmouthshire 5 0.49x
Bedfordshire 4 0.55x
Gloucestershire 3 0.11x
Hampshire 2 0.07x
Kent 2 0.04x
Oxfordshire 2 0.23x
Sussex 2 0.08x
Westmorland 2 0.65x
Berkshire 1 0.10x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.17x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oldham in Lancashire leads with 54 Fallows' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.07x.

Place Total Index
Oldham 54 10.07x
Stoke Upon Trent 44 8.78x
Barrow In Furness 40 17.69x
Middleton In Oldham 40 80.26x
Pendleton In Salford 31 15.65x
Stretford 29 31.71x
Little Bolton 27 12.63x
Newton 25 19.51x
Everton 24 4.53x
Salford 24 4.91x
Bredbury 23 128.56x
Stockport 23 14.45x
Chadderton 22 27.07x
Cheadle 21 92.47x
Liverpool 21 2.08x
Stone 21 34.72x
Great Bolton 20 9.08x
Tonge 20 57.36x
Bootle Cum Linacre 18 13.64x
Hulme 18 5.19x
Bramhall 17 132.71x
Crumpsall 17 43.39x
Ashton Under Lyne 16 4.40x
Tonge With Haulgh 16 49.44x
Manchester 15 2.01x
Chorlton On Medlock 14 5.30x
Great Lever 14 79.37x
Hopwood 14 64.43x
Kearsley 14 40.03x
Blackley 13 44.61x
Derby St Werburgh 13 10.27x
Moston 13 77.98x
Wetton 13 828.03x
Wolstanton Chatterly 13 267.49x
Birmingham 12 1.02x
Bromley London 12 3.89x
Capel St Mary 12 437.96x
Edgbaston 12 10.96x
Stockton On Tees 12 5.97x
Aston 11 1.13x
Prees 11 74.63x
Leeds 10 1.28x
Oldbury 10 11.11x
Saddleworth 10 9.34x
Shrewsbury St Chad 10 23.55x
Toxteth Park 10 1.78x
Wolstanton Knutton 10 34.64x
Batley 9 6.82x
Dalton In Furness 9 14.03x
Leicester St Margaret 9 2.38x
Ludworth 9 87.12x
Norbury 9 125.00x
Shrewsbury St Julian 9 30.06x
Cheetham 8 6.45x
Failsworth 8 21.04x
Ince In Makerfield 8 10.34x
Moss Side 8 9.15x
Tottenham 8 3.59x
Warrington 8 4.06x
Whalley 8 33.03x
Wigan 8 3.44x
Bethnal Green London 7 1.15x
Elswick 7 4.21x
Leek Lowe 7 11.13x
Lilleshall 7 37.84x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 7 10.85x
Uttoxeter 7 28.91x
Whittington 7 72.39x
Coventry Holy Trinity 6 5.69x
Gorton 6 3.84x
Kirkdale 6 2.15x
Millom 6 16.23x
Newcastle On Tyne St 6 5.55x
Sandbach 6 22.75x
Sheriff Hales 6 123.97x
Stockport Etchells 6 91.05x
Stoke 6 86.21x
Subberthwaite 6 845.07x
Thornham 6 66.74x
Wolstanton 6 4.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 107
Sarah 65
Elizabeth 63
Ann 29
Jane 29
Hannah 28
Alice 25
Annie 20
Martha 18
Ellen 15
Emma 15
Margaret 15
Maria 15
Eliza 13
Ada 12
Emily 11
Clara 10
Louisa 8
Esther 7
Harriet 7
Agnes 6
Caroline 6
Fanny 6
Frances 6
Rachel 6
Betsy 5
Charlotte 5
Florence 5
Isabella 5
Ruth 5
Susan 5
Catherine 4
Lydia 4
Matilda 4
Nancy 4
Rebecca 4
Amelia 3
Amy 3
Bertha 3
Edith 3
Jessie 3
Julia 3
Margret 3
Marion 3
Phoebe 3
Beatrice 2
Deborah 2
Eleanor 2
Lucy 2
M.A. 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 117
William 106
Thomas 63
James 62
Joseph 43
George 33
Robert 20
Edward 18
Henry 17
Samuel 16
Richard 12
Charles 11
Albert 9
Edwin 9
Frederick 9
Harry 9
Frank 8
Alfred 7
Arthur 6
Thos. 5
Walter 5
Benjamin 4
Wm. 4
Abraham 3
Bennett 3
Edgar 3
Edmund 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Geo. 3
Herbert 3
Joshua 3
Alexander 2
Chas. 2
Cornelius 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Harold 2
Harvey 2
Lawrence 2
Levi 2
Lewis 2
Martin 2
Peter 2
Philip 2
Tom 2
Wright 2
Fred. 1
Jonathan 1

FAQ

Fallows surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fallows surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,443 people were recorded with the Fallows surname. That placed it at #2,885 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fallows surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,250 in 2016. That gives Fallows a modern rank of #2,889.

What does the Fallows surname mean?

A topographic name referring to plowed fields or fallow land.

What does the Fallows map show?

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