NameCensus.

UK surname

Follis

A surname deriving from the Middle English word "folie" meaning foolish or insane person.

In the 1881 census there were 87 people recorded with the Follis surname, ranking it #21,334 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 129, ranked #26,270, down from #21,334 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sedgley, Birmingham Town: Birmingham and Birmingham Town: Aston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dudley, North Warwickshire and Herefordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Follis is 153 in 1997. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.3%.

1881 census count

87

Ranked #21,334

Modern count

129

2016, ranked #26,270

Peak year

1997

153 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Follis had 87 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,334 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016, ranked #26,270.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 128 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Follis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Follis surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Follis 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 48 #24,615
1861 historical 54 #27,127
1881 historical 87 #21,334
1891 historical 104 #23,388
1901 historical 117 #20,830
1911 historical 128 #19,664
1997 modern 153 #20,868
1998 modern 146 #22,031
1999 modern 148 #22,020
2000 modern 144 #22,357
2001 modern 138 #22,647
2002 modern 143 #22,595
2003 modern 139 #22,734
2004 modern 139 #22,891
2005 modern 134 #23,406
2006 modern 133 #23,711
2007 modern 128 #24,632
2008 modern 128 #24,901
2009 modern 135 #24,594
2010 modern 136 #25,009
2011 modern 135 #24,922
2012 modern 143 #24,019
2013 modern 137 #25,149
2014 modern 138 #25,218
2015 modern 132 #25,859
2016 modern 129 #26,270

Geography

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Where Follis' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sedgley, Birmingham Town: Birmingham, Birmingham Town: Aston, West Bromwich and Handsworth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dudley, North Warwickshire, Herefordshire, St. Helens and Birmingham. 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 Sedgley Staffordshire
2 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire
3 Birmingham Town: Aston Warwickshire
4 West Bromwich Staffordshire
5 Handsworth Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dudley 043 Dudley
2 North Warwickshire 006 North Warwickshire
3 Herefordshire 007 Herefordshire, County of
4 St. Helens 018 St. Helens
5 Birmingham 003 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Follis

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Follis

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Follis, 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 Follis surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Follis 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Follis 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

Follis is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Follis falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Follis

The surname Follis has its origins in England and dates back to the late medieval period. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English word "folgere," which means "follower" or "servant." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who was a follower or servant of a prominent person or household.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Follis can be found in various historical records, such as the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and resources commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, including Follius, Folliis, and Follys, reflecting the variations in spelling common during that time.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Follis was Sir William Follis, a knight who lived in the late 13th century. He was a prominent figure in the court of King Edward I and served as a diplomat and military commander during the Scottish Wars of Independence.

Another notable figure was John Follis, a merchant and landowner who lived in the 15th century. He was a prominent member of the Guild of Mercers in London and owned several properties in the city. Records indicate that he was involved in the wool trade and played a significant role in the economic life of London during that period.

In the 16th century, the Follis family had established themselves in various parts of England, with branches in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. One notable member was Thomas Follis (1545-1612), a clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Chester and was known for his scholarly works on theology and church history.

During the 17th century, the name Follis was also found in parts of Scotland, where it was sometimes spelled as Fullys or Foulles. One notable Scottish bearer of the name was Robert Follis (1670-1743), a merchant and politician who served as a member of the Scottish Parliament and was involved in the Union of Scotland and England in 1707.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Follis family continued to be present in various regions of England and Scotland, with some members achieving prominence in various fields, including law, politics, and the military.

It is worth noting that the surname Follis has also been associated with certain place names, such as Follis Hill in Herefordshire, England, and Follis Farm in Gloucestershire, suggesting that the name may have originated from specific locations or landholdings.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Follis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Follis 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. Warwickshire leads with 42 Follis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.86x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 42 19.86x
Staffordshire 16 5.65x
Yorkshire 13 1.56x
Herefordshire 7 20.35x
Lanarkshire 4 1.47x
Middlesex 3 0.36x
Surrey 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. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 21 Follis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.06x.

Place Total Index
Aston 21 36.06x
Birmingham 21 29.79x
Handsworth 16 229.23x
Wakefield 7 109.72x
Wellington 7 3888.89x
Batley 6 75.95x
Glasgow 4 8.30x
Clapham 1 9.53x
Clerkenwell London 1 5.05x
St George Hanover Square 1 6.77x
St Marylebone London 1 2.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 8
John 6
Thomas 4
Arthur 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
George 2
James 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Harry 1
Joseph 1
Lenard 1
Leonard 1
Michael 1
Philamon 1

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 Follis households.

FAQ

Follis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Follis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 87 people were recorded with the Follis surname. That placed it at #21,334 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Follis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016. That gives Follis a modern rank of #26,270.

What does the Follis surname mean?

A surname deriving from the Middle English word "folie" meaning foolish or insane person.

What does the Follis map show?

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