NameCensus.

UK surname

Faull

An archaic English habitational surname derived from a geographic place name meaning "foul, bare or grassy spot."

In the 1881 census there were 208 people recorded with the Faull surname, ranking it #12,511 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 256, ranked #16,534, down from #12,511 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St Agnes and Wendron. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Gallowgate North and Bellgrove and Swansea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Faull is 299 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.1%.

1881 census count

208

Ranked #12,511

Modern count

256

2016, ranked #16,534

Peak year

1901

299 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Faull had 208 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,511 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 256 in 2016, ranked #16,534.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 299 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Faull surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Faull surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Faull 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 215 #9,860
1861 historical 239 #10,273
1881 historical 208 #12,511
1891 historical 262 #12,297
1901 historical 299 #11,673
1911 historical 277 #12,067
1997 modern 238 #15,760
1998 modern 257 #15,401
1999 modern 252 #15,707
2000 modern 256 #15,510
2001 modern 254 #15,363
2002 modern 251 #15,770
2003 modern 250 #15,605
2004 modern 244 #15,948
2005 modern 250 #15,639
2006 modern 252 #15,642
2007 modern 255 #15,687
2008 modern 266 #15,384
2009 modern 276 #15,300
2010 modern 280 #15,485
2011 modern 268 #15,843
2012 modern 273 #15,546
2013 modern 267 #16,053
2014 modern 270 #16,020
2015 modern 264 #16,186
2016 modern 256 #16,534

Geography

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Where Faulls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St Agnes, Wendron, Gwennap and Camborne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Gallowgate North and Bellgrove and Swansea. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 St Agnes Cornwall
3 Wendron Cornwall
4 Gwennap Cornwall
5 Camborne Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 072 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 011 Cornwall
3 Gallowgate North and Bellgrove Glasgow City
4 Cornwall 055 Cornwall
5 Swansea 030 Swansea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Faull

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Faull

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Faull is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Faull is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Faull falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Faull

The surname Faull is of English origin, emerging in the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "falu," meaning pale or faded. This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname for someone with a pale complexion.

The earliest known record of the Faull surname appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where it is listed as "Faulle." This indicates that the name had already established itself in the West Midlands region by the 14th century.

During the 16th century, the Faull name was associated with several prominent figures. One notable example is Robert Faull, a merchant and alderman who lived in Bristol in the late 1500s. He was involved in the city's thriving trade and played a significant role in local affairs.

In the 17th century, the Faull surname spread to other parts of England, including Yorkshire and Lancashire. The Hearth Tax Rolls of 1672 record a John Faull residing in the village of Almondbury, near Huddersfield.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Faull name was William Faull, a yeoman farmer from Lincolnshire who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. His family owned land in the village of Waddington, where they were prominent members of the local community.

Another noteworthy individual was Richard Faull, a renowned architect and surveyor born in 1730 in Cheshire. He designed several notable buildings in the region, including churches and country houses, and was highly regarded for his expertise in classical architecture.

In the 19th century, the Faull surname gained further recognition through the accomplishments of Joseph Faull, a renowned English botanist and horticulturist. Born in 1805 in Staffordshire, he made significant contributions to the study and cultivation of exotic plants, earning him a respected reputation in the field.

While the Faull surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period, where it likely emerged as a descriptive nickname reflecting a person's physical appearance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Faull families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Faull 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 131 Faulls recorded in 1881 and an index of 57.03x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 131 57.03x
Stirlingshire 16 21.38x
Devon 15 3.55x
Middlesex 15 0.74x
Glamorgan 8 2.26x
Surrey 7 0.71x
Durham 4 0.66x
Lancashire 3 0.12x
Somerset 3 0.92x
Yorkshire 3 0.15x
Derbyshire 2 0.63x
Hampshire 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camborne in Cornwall leads with 17 Faulls recorded in 1881 and an index of 179.70x.

Place Total Index
Camborne 17 179.70x
Crowan 15 824.18x
St Agnes 15 465.84x
Dunipace 13 992.37x
Redruth 12 184.62x
Plymouth Charles The 9 48.36x
Wendron 9 282.13x
Clase 8 60.88x
Gwinear 8 733.95x
St Ives 7 155.90x
Islington London 6 3.05x
Lambeth 6 3.39x
Gwennap 5 115.47x
Kea 5 292.40x
Kenwyn 5 83.19x
Cury 4 1333.33x
Esh 4 91.12x
Madron Penzance 4 47.90x
Mile End Old Town London 4 9.26x
Padstow 4 261.44x
St Cleer 4 201.01x
Stoke Damerel 4 13.53x
Falkirk 3 17.12x
Linkinhorne 3 187.50x
Probus 3 319.15x
Pylle 3 1578.95x
Spotland 3 11.21x
St Pancras London 3 1.84x
Holsworthy 2 168.07x
Matlock 2 46.95x
St Ewe 2 285.71x
St Stithians 2 157.48x
Wath On Dearne 2 49.88x
Breage 1 47.62x
Halifax 1 3.39x
Illogan 1 16.45x
Kensington London 1 0.89x
North Hill 1 135.14x
Paddington London 1 1.34x
Reigate Borough 1 43.86x
Southampton All Sts 1 14.01x
St Clement 1 41.67x
St Erth 1 71.94x
St Keverne 1 79.37x
St Stephen In Brannel 1 47.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Elizabeth 9
Jane 7
Eliza 5
Grace 4
Bessie 3
Carrie 3
Ellen 3
Ann 2
Caroline 2
Emily 2
Johanna 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Agusta 1
Alice 1
Allorine 1
Amelia 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Clara 1
Dora 1
Dorcas 1
Doritha 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Emma 1
Eugenia 1
Florence 1
Harriet 1
Isabella 1
Juliana 1
Kate 1
Katie 1
Libey 1
Lillie 1
Loveday 1
M. 1
Mabel 1
Matilda 1
Minney 1
Prudence 1
Rachel 1
S. 1
Salome 1
Sarah 1
Selena 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 17
William 12
Thomas 11
Henry 7
Joseph 6
Elijah 4
Richard 4
Charles 3
Edward 3
A. 2
Alfred 2
Edwin 2
Robert 2
T. 2
Arthur 1
Ebenezer 1
Eddy 1
Edwd. 1
Eldred 1
Francis 1
H. 1
James 1
Jeremiah 1
Lorenze 1
Nathaniel 1

FAQ

Faull surname: questions and answers

How common was the Faull surname in 1881?

In 1881, 208 people were recorded with the Faull surname. That placed it at #12,511 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Faull surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 256 in 2016. That gives Faull a modern rank of #16,534.

What does the Faull surname mean?

An archaic English habitational surname derived from a geographic place name meaning "foul, bare or grassy spot."

What does the Faull map show?

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