FAULDS
Faulds is a surname of Scottish origin that finds its roots in the Gaelic language of the British Isles. The name is firmly situated within the Celtic heritage of Scotland and is associated with a Christian cultural context.
In Gaelic, the word fald means “fold” or “enclosure.” Consequently, the surname originally described an individual who lived near a sheepfold or worked within an animal enclosure. It is plausible that the name also applied to a person who owned or managed such a place, reflecting the importance of pastoral farming in early Scottish society.
Beyond its Gaelic origins, Faulds has an Anglo‑Saxon dimension. The Old English pre‑7th‑century term falod or fald likewise denotes a “fold” or “pen” for livestock. In Middle English this was rendered as fold. The surname may therefore function as either a topographical reference to someone residing near an animal enclosure or an occupational label for a worker at a fold or cattle pen.
Historical records attest to the early use of the name. In 1275 the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, Yorkshire, mention Hugh del Foldis, which is the earliest known spelling. The 14th century saw further examples such as Adam le Fold (1327, Derbyshire), John atte Fold (1327, Somerset), and Adam de Falde (1332, Staffordshire). By the late 16th century the spelling Faulds appears in the record of James Foulds (1584, Cheshire).
Over time the surname has diversified. Variants include Fold, Foldes, Folds, Fould, Fouldes, Foulds, Fowlds and Faulds. The plural forms are usually genitive, indicating “of the folds.”
Instances of the surname within the 19th‑century civil records illustrate its continued use. On 11 January 1813 a marriage between Andrew Faulds and Elizabeth Jackson took place at Barnsley, Yorkshire. William, their son, was christened on 15 August 1815 at Worsborough, Yorkshire. In 1876 twins Robert and Ellen, born to Thomas and Esther Faulds, were christened at Christchurch, Southwark, London on 16 January.
Geographically, the modern distribution of the name is most pronounced in Scotland and the northern counties of England. The surname has also spread to other English‑speaking countries through emigration.
In sum, the surname Faulds demonstrates a rich linguistic and geographical heritage that intertwines Gaelic and Anglo‑Saxon traditions and reflects a long association with pastoral communities in the British Isles.
Typical given names associated with the Faulds surname
Male
- Alan
- Alexander
- Andrew
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Robert
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Ann
- Anne
- Elizabeth
- Fiona
- Helen
- Jacqueline
- Margaret
- Mary
- Sarah
- Sharon
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Faulds in...
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There are approximately 1,607 people named Faulds in the UK. That makes it roughly the 5,058th most common surname in Britain. Around 25 in a million people in Britain are named Faulds.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Faulds
- Andrew Faulds - Politician (1923 to 2000)
- Henry Faulds - Physician (1843 to 1930)
- Richard Faulds - Sport shooter
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.