NameCensus.

UK surname

Folland

An English habitational surname derived from a place name, likely originating from someone who lived in or near land with a valley or low-lying area.

In the 1881 census there were 437 people recorded with the Folland surname, ranking it #7,472 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 494, ranked #10,067, down from #7,472 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, St Giles and Petrockstow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torridge, Cardiff and Mid Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Folland is 587 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.0%.

1881 census count

437

Ranked #7,472

Modern count

494

2016, ranked #10,067

Peak year

1911

587 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Folland had 437 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,472 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 494 in 2016, ranked #10,067.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 587 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Folland surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Folland surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Folland 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 300 #7,650
1861 historical 254 #9,741
1881 historical 437 #7,472
1891 historical 489 #7,570
1901 historical 504 #8,006
1911 historical 587 #6,951
1997 modern 548 #8,679
1998 modern 571 #8,675
1999 modern 558 #8,885
2000 modern 550 #8,943
2001 modern 542 #8,904
2002 modern 536 #9,163
2003 modern 506 #9,404
2004 modern 511 #9,361
2005 modern 497 #9,479
2006 modern 497 #9,518
2007 modern 491 #9,689
2008 modern 494 #9,738
2009 modern 482 #10,131
2010 modern 488 #10,243
2011 modern 501 #9,938
2012 modern 502 #9,832
2013 modern 506 #9,936
2014 modern 506 #9,991
2015 modern 503 #9,956
2016 modern 494 #10,067

Geography

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Where Follands are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, St Giles, Petrockstow, Cardiff St John and St Mary and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torridge, Cardiff and Mid Devon. 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 Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton Devon
2 St Giles Devon
3 Petrockstow Devon
4 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torridge 007 Torridge
2 Torridge 009 Torridge
3 Cardiff 013 Cardiff
4 Mid Devon 010 Mid Devon
5 Cardiff 023 Cardiff

Forenames

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First names often paired with Folland

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Folland

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Folland surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Folland household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Folland 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

Folland is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Folland

The surname Folland is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "fald," meaning an enclosed area for livestock, combined with "land," signifying a piece of land or territory.

This surname likely originated in regions where farming and animal husbandry were prevalent occupations, suggesting that the earliest bearers of this name may have been individuals who owned or worked on land designated for livestock enclosures.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Folland can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and property holdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. This ancient document mentions a landowner named Folland, residing in the county of Somerset.

In the 13th century, historical records mention a Sir John de Folland, a knight from the county of Dorset, who fought alongside King Edward I during the Wars of Scottish Independence. Another notable figure was Robert Folland, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol during the late 15th century.

During the 16th century, the spelling variations of the name included Folland, Foulland, and Fowland, as evidenced by various parish records and legal documents from that era.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Folland surname in the New World can be traced back to William Folland, who arrived in Virginia in 1635, seeking new opportunities and a fresh start in the American colonies.

In the 18th century, a notable bearer of the name was Sir Francis Folland, a successful businessman and philanthropist from London, who made significant contributions to various charitable causes and was knighted by King George III in 1782.

Another prominent figure was Captain John Folland, a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and played a crucial role in several decisive battles against the French fleet in the early 19th century.

Throughout history, the Folland surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including farmers, merchants, military personnel, and professionals, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments associated with this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Folland families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Folland 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. Devon leads with 214 Follands recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.95x.

County Total Index
Devon 214 23.95x
Pembrokeshire 70 51.32x
Somerset 25 3.62x
Durham 20 1.57x
Glamorgan 16 2.14x
Lancashire 16 0.31x
Warwickshire 16 1.48x
Hampshire 8 0.91x
Middlesex 8 0.19x
Buckinghamshire 7 2.70x
Carmarthenshire 6 3.32x
Gloucestershire 5 0.59x
Lanarkshire 5 0.36x
Monmouthshire 4 1.29x
Wiltshire 4 1.05x
Cornwall 3 0.62x
Worcestershire 3 0.54x
Kent 2 0.14x
Royal Navy 2 3.91x
Staffordshire 2 0.14x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.25x
Stirlingshire 1 0.63x
Suffolk 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Llangwm in Pembrokeshire leads with 33 Follands recorded in 1881 and an index of 2578.13x.

Place Total Index
Llangwm 33 2578.13x
Dolton 28 2545.45x
Tormoham 19 50.26x
Llanstadwell 16 358.74x
Barnstaple 12 85.59x
Edgbaston 11 32.78x
Plymouth Charles The 11 27.95x
Taunton St Mary 11 86.75x
Petrockstow 10 1333.33x
Plymouth St Andrew 10 14.53x
Marloes 9 1475.41x
Seaton Carew 9 350.19x
St Giles In The Wood 9 676.69x
Ashreigney 8 808.08x
Bootle Cum Linacre 8 19.78x
Swansea Town 8 13.06x
Stoke Damerel 7 11.19x
Tiverton 7 45.48x
Walcot 7 19.02x
Bideford 6 62.70x
Exeter St Mary Major 6 111.32x
Ilfracombe 6 65.22x
Padbury 6 769.23x
Pembrey 6 72.12x
Portsea 6 3.48x
Tenby St Mary In 6 86.46x
West Derby 6 4.03x
Westoe 6 8.29x
Barony 5 1.42x
Briton Ferry 5 56.05x
Great Torrington 5 98.62x
Highweek 5 156.74x
Taunton St James 5 49.60x
Beaford 4 459.77x
Bondleigh 4 1428.57x
Chawleigh 4 404.04x
Hatherleigh 4 180.18x
Sheepwash 4 655.74x
St Pancras London 4 1.16x
St Woollos 4 11.55x
Willand 4 800.00x
Aberavon 3 43.60x
Aston 3 1.01x
Bishops Tawton 3 107.53x
Bristol St Augustine 3 22.09x
Exeter St Sidwell 3 14.66x
Fisherton Anger 3 42.67x
Freystrop 3 535.71x
Morthoe 3 476.19x
Sampford Courtenay 3 223.88x
Stranton 3 6.98x
Acton 2 7.95x
Bickleigh 2 227.27x
Birmingham 2 0.55x
Cockington 2 377.36x
Exeter St Thomas The 2 21.95x
Heanton Punchardon 2 307.69x
Kidderminster Borough 2 6.10x
Merton 2 232.56x
North Tawton 2 72.99x
Parkham 2 169.49x
Portsmouth 2 9.87x
Royal Navy 2 4.57x
Stokenham 2 79.37x
West Bromwich 2 2.41x
West Teignmouth 2 29.28x
Bristol St James In 1 8.08x
Buckingham 1 18.94x
Exeter Holy Trinity 1 28.57x
Gorton 1 2.09x
Holsworthy 1 39.68x
Iddesleigh 1 163.93x
Lydd 1 31.85x
Madron Penzance 1 5.66x
Paignton 1 14.71x
South Molton 1 20.37x
South Shields 1 8.80x
Stoke Prior 1 28.90x
Stokefleming 1 89.29x
Wilton 1 55.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 43
John 39
Thomas 15
James 12
George 10
Henry 9
Robert 8
Richard 7
Frederick 6
Alfred 5
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Edward 3
Joseph 3
Samuel 3
Albert 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Michael 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Absolem 1
Alexander 1
Augustus 1
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Emanuel 1
Emmanuel 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Jno. 1
Jno.S. 1
Joshua 1
Kinloch 1
Leonard 1
Nisbet 1
Patrick 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Rd. 1
Reuben 1
Robt. 1
Stephen 1
Sydney 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Folland surname: questions and answers

How common was the Folland surname in 1881?

In 1881, 437 people were recorded with the Folland surname. That placed it at #7,472 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Folland surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 494 in 2016. That gives Folland a modern rank of #10,067.

What does the Folland surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place name, likely originating from someone who lived in or near land with a valley or low-lying area.

What does the Folland map show?

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