NameCensus.

UK surname

Faul

Derived from a Germanic personal name composed of the elements "fal" (joyful) and "wulf" (wolf).

In the 1881 census there were 65 people recorded with the Faul surname, ranking it #24,420 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 92, ranked #32,035, down from #24,420 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Aylesbury Vale, Southwark and Hart.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Faul is 123 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.5%.

1881 census count

65

Ranked #24,420

Modern count

92

2016, ranked #32,035

Peak year

1998

123 bearers

Map years

1

1998 to 1998

Key insights

  • Faul had 65 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,420 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 92 in 2016, ranked #32,035.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 85 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Faul surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Faul surname density by area, 1998 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Faul 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 85 #18,940
1861 historical 36 #29,463
1881 historical 65 #24,420
1891 historical 46 #30,657
1901 historical 29 #30,848
1911 historical 71 #25,742
1997 modern 121 #24,019
1998 modern 123 #24,449
1999 modern 123 #24,643
2000 modern 122 #24,698
2001 modern 118 #24,832
2002 modern 118 #25,358
2003 modern 106 #26,775
2004 modern 100 #27,964
2005 modern 97 #28,485
2006 modern 98 #28,621
2007 modern 93 #29,777
2008 modern 94 #29,950
2009 modern 99 #29,754
2010 modern 96 #30,854
2011 modern 90 #31,564
2012 modern 90 #31,790
2013 modern 95 #31,523
2014 modern 91 #32,219
2015 modern 95 #31,749
2016 modern 92 #32,035

Geography

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Where Fauls 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 Aylesbury Vale, Southwark, Hart and Shropshire. 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 Aylesbury Vale 022 Aylesbury Vale
2 Aylesbury Vale 010 Aylesbury Vale
3 Southwark 032 Southwark
4 Hart 003 Hart
5 Shropshire 005 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Faul

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Faul

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Faul surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Faul household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Faul 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

Faul 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

Faul falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Faul 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 Faul, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Faul

The surname FAUL is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "fæl," which means "ring" or "circular enclosure." It is believed to have emerged in the 12th century as a topographic name for someone who lived near a circular enclosure or a ring-shaped feature in the landscape.

The earliest recorded instance of the name FAUL can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Fauel." This suggests that the name was already in use before the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

In the 13th century, the name FAUL appeared in various records and manuscripts, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it is listed as "Fauel" and "Favel." This indicates that the spelling of the name varied during this period.

During the Middle Ages, the name FAUL was also associated with certain place names, such as Fawley in Hampshire, which was recorded as "Faueleia" in the Domesday Book. This suggests that some individuals may have derived their surname from the name of the place where they lived or originated from.

One notable individual with the surname FAUL was John Faul (c. 1330-1399), an English landowner and member of the gentry from Staffordshire. Another prominent figure was Thomas Faul (1568-1640), a clergyman who served as the Bishop of Thetford in Norfolk.

In the 17th century, the name FAUL appeared in various parish records and court rolls, such as the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1662, where it is listed as "Fawle" and "Fawl." This variation in spelling continued until the late 18th century when the modern spelling of "FAUL" became more standardized.

Other notable individuals with the surname FAUL include William Faul (1720-1790), a British soldier who served in the American Revolutionary War, and James Faul (1805-1882), an Irish-born Australian politician and landowner who played a prominent role in the early development of South Australia.

Throughout its history, the surname FAUL has been associated with various occupations and social classes, from landowners and clergymen to soldiers and politicians. Its roots can be traced back to the Old English word "fæl," reflecting the topographic origins of many English surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Faul families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Faul 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. Cornwall leads with 17 Fauls recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.25x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 17 25.25x
Yorkshire 15 2.54x
Middlesex 14 2.35x
Durham 7 3.96x
Staffordshire 3 1.49x
Cumberland 2 3.91x
Lincolnshire 2 2.10x
Dorset 1 2.56x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hampton London in Middlesex leads with 7 Fauls recorded in 1881 and an index of 714.29x.

Place Total Index
Hampton London 7 714.29x
Stranton 7 117.45x
Holy Trinity 6 42.31x
Tong 6 526.32x
Poplar London 5 44.52x
Sheviock 5 4545.45x
Kea 4 800.00x
Crowan 3 566.04x
Bromley London 2 15.28x
Cleethorpes 2 357.14x
Egremont 2 163.93x
Middlesbrough 2 26.04x
St Austell 2 86.96x
Wednesbury 2 39.84x
Camborne 1 36.10x
Handsworth 1 20.20x
Parkstone 1 217.39x
Paul 1 81.97x
Scarborough 1 18.66x
St Gluvias 1 263.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Elizabeth 4
Annie 2
Grace 2
Harriet 2
Jane 2
Anes 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Emmeline 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Ida 1
Johanna 1
Kate 1
Lily 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

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 Faul households.

FAQ

Faul surname: questions and answers

How common was the Faul surname in 1881?

In 1881, 65 people were recorded with the Faul surname. That placed it at #24,420 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Faul surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 92 in 2016. That gives Faul a modern rank of #32,035.

What does the Faul surname mean?

Derived from a Germanic personal name composed of the elements "fal" (joyful) and "wulf" (wolf).

What does the Faul map show?

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