UK surname
An English occupational surname referring to a person who kept and trained falcons for hunting.
In the 1881 census there were 75 people recorded with the Foulk surname, ranking it #22,893 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 70, ranked #33,700, down from #22,893 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Mynyddyslwyn, Duffield and Horsley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Foulk is 110 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 6.7%.
1881 census count
75
Ranked #22,893
Modern count
70
2016, ranked #33,700
Peak year
1901
110 bearers
Map years
1
1901 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Foulk surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Foulk surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 96 | #17,594 |
| 1861 | historical | 95 | #21,768 |
| 1881 | historical | 75 | #22,893 |
| 1891 | historical | 82 | #26,494 |
| 1901 | historical | 110 | #21,604 |
| 1911 | historical | 95 | #23,294 |
| 1997 | modern | 63 | #31,335 |
| 1998 | modern | 70 | #30,968 |
| 1999 | modern | 68 | #31,311 |
| 2000 | modern | 82 | #29,922 |
| 2001 | modern | 76 | #30,366 |
| 2002 | modern | 71 | #31,351 |
| 2003 | modern | 74 | #31,091 |
| 2004 | modern | 75 | #31,233 |
| 2005 | modern | 76 | #31,267 |
| 2006 | modern | 71 | #32,147 |
| 2007 | modern | 75 | #32,079 |
| 2008 | modern | 72 | #32,656 |
| 2009 | modern | 74 | #32,835 |
| 2010 | modern | 73 | #33,249 |
| 2011 | modern | 72 | #33,323 |
| 2012 | modern | 68 | #33,763 |
| 2013 | modern | 66 | #34,003 |
| 2014 | modern | 68 | #33,898 |
| 2015 | modern | 69 | #33,788 |
| 2016 | modern | 70 | #33,700 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Mynyddyslwyn, Duffield, Horsley, Sutton with Duckmanton and Llanddeiniolen. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mynyddyslwyn | Monmouthshire |
| 2 | Duffield | Derbyshire |
| 3 | Horsley | Derbyshire |
| 4 | Sutton with Duckmanton | Derbyshire |
| 5 | Llanddeiniolen | Carnarvonshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Foulk surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Foulk, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Foulk surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Foulk household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Foulk is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Foulk is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Foulk, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname FOULK is of Anglo-Norman origin, deriving from the personal name Fulk, a Germanic name meaning "people" or "folk". This name was introduced into England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is believed that the name was first established in Staffordshire, England, where some of the earliest records of the surname can be found.
In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record from Oxfordshire mentions a landowner named Fulco. This is considered one of the earliest documented instances of the name in England. Over time, the spelling of the surname evolved to include variations such as Foulk, Foulke, and Fowlke.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname FOULK was Sir Adam Foulk, a knight who lived in Staffordshire during the 13th century. Another notable bearer of the name was Sir Thomas Foulk, who served as a member of parliament for Staffordshire in the late 14th century.
In the 16th century, the surname FOULK was found in various parts of England, including Staffordshire, Lancashire, and Yorkshire. One prominent individual from this era was John Foulk, a merchant and alderman of the City of London, who lived from around 1520 to 1585.
The surname FOULK also has a connection to place names in England. For example, the village of Foulk in Staffordshire is believed to be named after an early bearer of the surname.
Moving into the 17th century, one notable individual with the surname FOULK was Roger Foulk, a Puritan minister who emigrated from England to Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 1630s. He served as a minister in several towns, including Hingham and Salem.
Another significant bearer of the name was Benjamin Foulk, an American soldier and farmer who lived from 1741 to 1819. He fought in the American Revolutionary War and later settled in Pennsylvania, where he became a prominent landowner.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname FOULK continued to be found in various parts of England and the United States. Notable individuals from this period included John Foulk, an American politician and businessman born in 1789, and William Dudley Foulk, an American author and reformer born in 1848.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Foulk surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Derbyshire leads with 42 Foulks recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.67x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Derbyshire | 42 | 36.67x |
| Shropshire | 7 | 11.08x |
| Monmouthshire | 6 | 11.35x |
| Staffordshire | 5 | 2.02x |
| Buckinghamshire | 4 | 9.04x |
| Denbighshire | 4 | 14.48x |
| Montgomeryshire | 3 | 17.90x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.27x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.12x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.14x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Horsley in Derbyshire leads with 22 Foulks recorded in 1881 and an index of 3188.41x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Horsley | 22 | 3188.41x |
| Brampton | 7 | 437.50x |
| Trevethin | 6 | 120.24x |
| Wrockwardine | 6 | 431.65x |
| Ashleyhay | 5 | 10000.00x |
| Burnham | 4 | 714.29x |
| Minera | 4 | 1081.08x |
| Holbrook | 3 | 1153.85x |
| Leek Lowe | 3 | 91.19x |
| Llanbrynmair | 3 | 750.00x |
| Ripley | 2 | 140.85x |
| Willenhall | 2 | 43.29x |
| Wirksworth | 2 | 192.31x |
| Harrow | 1 | 89.29x |
| Langcliffe | 1 | 588.24x |
| Manchester | 1 | 2.56x |
| Shifnal | 1 | 58.14x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.70x |
| Staveley | 1 | 49.26x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Foulk surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Foulk surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Foulk households.
FAQ
In 1881, 75 people were recorded with the Foulk surname. That placed it at #22,893 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 70 in 2016. That gives Foulk a modern rank of #33,700.
An English occupational surname referring to a person who kept and trained falcons for hunting.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Foulk bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.