NameCensus.

UK surname

Faulds

A Scottish surname derived from the word "faldes," meaning folds or valleys.

In the 1881 census there were 914 people recorded with the Faulds surname, ranking it #4,200 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,362, ranked #4,426, down from #4,200 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Riccarton and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dalmarnock, Craigend and Ruchazie and Renfrew South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Faulds is 1,362 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.0%.

1881 census count

914

Ranked #4,200

Modern count

1,362

2016, ranked #4,426

Peak year

2016

1,362 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Faulds had 914 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,200 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,362 in 2016, ranked #4,426.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,088 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Faulds surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Faulds surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Faulds 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 572 #4,447
1861 historical 703 #3,854
1881 historical 914 #4,200
1891 historical 1,039 #4,022
1901 historical 1,088 #4,439
1911 historical 124 #20,023
1997 modern 1,221 #4,645
1998 modern 1,241 #4,745
1999 modern 1,253 #4,745
2000 modern 1,253 #4,726
2001 modern 1,177 #4,893
2002 modern 1,206 #4,882
2003 modern 1,173 #4,900
2004 modern 1,193 #4,832
2005 modern 1,193 #4,781
2006 modern 1,200 #4,772
2007 modern 1,219 #4,748
2008 modern 1,226 #4,761
2009 modern 1,248 #4,786
2010 modern 1,279 #4,771
2011 modern 1,230 #4,881
2012 modern 1,241 #4,776
2013 modern 1,297 #4,664
2014 modern 1,322 #4,608
2015 modern 1,330 #4,540
2016 modern 1,362 #4,426

Geography

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Where Faulds' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Riccarton, Glasgow, Kilmarnock and Paisley Abbey. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dalmarnock, Craigend and Ruchazie, Renfrew South, West Neilston and Uplawmoor and Linlathen and Midcraigie. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Riccarton Ayr
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Kilmarnock Ayr
5 Paisley Abbey Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dalmarnock Glasgow City
2 Craigend and Ruchazie Glasgow City
3 Renfrew South Renfrewshire
4 West Neilston and Uplawmoor East Renfrewshire
5 Linlathen and Midcraigie Dundee City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Faulds

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Faulds

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Faulds surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Faulds household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Faulds is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Faulds 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

Faulds 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 Faulds is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Faulds

The surname FAULDS is of Scottish origin, derived from the Scots word 'faulds', meaning 'folds' or 'enclosures for livestock'. It is believed to have originated in the Lowlands of Scotland, particularly in the regions of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire, where many families bore this name during the medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name FAULDS dates back to the 15th century, when a John de Fauldis was mentioned in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland in 1450. This suggests that the name may have been associated with a specific location or lands related to livestock enclosures.

In the 16th century, the FAULDS surname appeared in various parish records and court documents across the Scottish Lowlands. For instance, a James Faulds was recorded in the Parish of Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, in 1579.

The name FAULDS has also been linked to several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was James Faulds (1759-1844), a Scottish inventor and printer who patented a process for printing calico with mordants in 1792. Another was John Faulds (1822-1907), a Scottish missionary and translator who worked in India and published several works in the Santali language.

Another notable bearer of the FAULDS surname was William Faulds (1849-1928), a Scottish businessman and philanthropist. He founded the successful Faulds & Co. biscuit company in Glasgow and donated generously to various charitable causes in the city.

In the 19th century, the FAULDS name was found in various parts of Scotland, with concentrations in Lanarkshire, Ayrshire, and Glasgow. Families with this surname also began to migrate to other parts of the United Kingdom and abroad, particularly to North America and Australia.

One such individual was Robert Faulds (1806-1890), a Scottish-born Australian businessman who established several successful enterprises in Sydney, including a brewery and a shipping company. He became a prominent figure in the city's commercial and social circles.

While the FAULDS surname has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. However, its origins can be traced back to the Scottish Lowlands and the historic association with livestock enclosures or 'faulds'.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Faulds families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Faulds 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. Lanarkshire leads with 334 Faulds' recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.58x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 334 11.58x
Renfrewshire 141 20.41x
Ayrshire 139 20.83x
Dunbartonshire 57 23.79x
Kirkcudbrightshire 26 20.15x
Fife 22 4.17x
Midlothian 22 1.84x
Buteshire 19 35.17x
Lancashire 16 0.15x
Angus 15 1.82x
Perthshire 12 3.00x
Kent 10 0.33x
Stirlingshire 10 3.04x
Argyllshire 9 3.63x
Durham 9 0.34x
Wigtownshire 9 7.60x
Clackmannanshire 8 10.87x
Surrey 8 0.18x
Middlesex 6 0.07x
Yorkshire 6 0.07x
Gloucestershire 5 0.29x
West Lothian 5 3.72x
Lincolnshire 4 0.28x
Caithness 3 2.46x
Cumberland 3 0.39x
Northumberland 3 0.23x
Roxburghshire 3 1.86x
Sutherland 2 2.92x
Berkshire 1 0.15x
Brecknockshire 1 0.56x
Derbyshire 1 0.07x
Devon 1 0.05x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.51x
Leicestershire 1 0.10x
Royal Navy 1 0.94x
Sussex 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 124 Faulds' recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.99x.

Place Total Index
Barony 124 16.99x
Govan 69 9.68x
Glasgow 68 13.28x
Abbey 43 40.79x
Kilmarnock 26 32.74x
Eastwood 25 58.75x
Old Kilpatrick 24 84.78x
New Kilpatrick 21 92.15x
Urr 20 119.12x
Rothesay 19 72.63x
Kilbirnie 18 112.36x
Hamilton 16 19.90x
Paisley High Church 15 27.27x
Neilston 14 40.37x
Ayr 12 38.11x
Dundee 12 3.89x
Lesmahagow 12 39.36x
Dalziel 11 35.46x
Kinghorn 11 98.21x
Dunfermline 10 12.32x
Everton 10 2.97x
Gillingham 10 15.94x
Kirkoswald 10 183.49x
Renfrew 10 43.82x
Beith 9 45.20x
Bishopwearmouth 9 3.95x
Glassary 9 67.31x
Kirkintilloch 9 27.65x
Stranraer 9 83.10x
Dalserf 8 27.81x
Eaglesham 8 189.13x
Maryhill 8 14.17x
Riccarton 8 79.44x
Tillicoultry 8 48.84x
Bermondsey 7 2.64x
Dundonald 7 28.46x
Galston 7 38.36x
Kilbarchan 7 33.35x
Paisley Low Church 7 32.01x
Riccarton Hurlford 7 59.83x
South Leith 7 5.21x
Coylton 6 63.36x
Culross 6 173.41x
Dalmellington 6 30.58x
Edinburgh Greenside 6 38.02x
Perth West Church 6 31.60x
Troqueer 6 35.44x
Cheltenham 5 3.71x
Clerkenwell London 5 2.38x
Falkirk 5 6.50x
Linlithgow 5 29.04x
Old Monkland 5 4.37x
Bingley 4 7.11x
Edinburgh Canongate 4 13.16x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 0.83x
Kilmaurs 4 35.24x
Kilwinning 4 18.56x
Louth 4 12.24x
St Quivox 4 17.73x
Campsie 3 16.62x
Houston Killallan 3 44.84x
Kelso 3 18.65x
Mearns 3 24.79x
New Monkland 3 3.52x
St Vigeans 3 6.73x
Symington 3 140.19x
Whitehaven 3 7.33x
Wick 3 7.61x
Cambusnethan 2 3.12x
Colmonell 2 29.81x
Kilmalcolm 2 24.15x
Maybole 2 9.84x
Rogart 2 52.91x
Rutherglen 2 4.73x
Shettleston 2 7.75x
Strathblane 2 48.78x
West Derby 2 0.65x
Melling With Wrayton 1 196.08x
Ponteland 1 73.53x
West Greenock 1 0.81x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 7
Thomas 5
James 4
Robert 4
John 3
Duncan 2
Peter 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Chas 1
Chas. 1
Edgar 1
George 1
Henry 1

FAQ

Faulds surname: questions and answers

How common was the Faulds surname in 1881?

In 1881, 914 people were recorded with the Faulds surname. That placed it at #4,200 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Faulds surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,362 in 2016. That gives Faulds a modern rank of #4,426.

What does the Faulds surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the word "faldes," meaning folds or valleys.

What does the Faulds map show?

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