FAULL
The surname Faull is of English origin, with its earliest recorded forms appearing in medieval documents. It is generally considered a patronymic name deriving from the personal name Fulk or Foulk, which is itself taken from the Old Norse Fúlkr. In this sense Faull was originally a way of identifying the descendants of a man named Fulk.
Over the centuries the spelling of the name evolved, giving rise to a number of variants such as Foulkes, Fowke and Faulk. The name also appears in earlier forms such as Fall, Falle, Faill and Faill, recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as William de Faleise and later as Geoffrey del Falles in Yorkshire in 1297 and William Falleys of Colchester in 1337. These variations reflect both the lack of standardised spelling in the medieval period and the influence of local dialects.
Some scholars have proposed a second line of origin for the surname. One theory holds that it comes from the Old English pre‑7th century word falle, meaning either a water fall, a hillside or a place where rocks fell. Under this interpretation Faull would be a topographical name, granted to someone living near such a feature. A further suggestion is that the name may be locational, derived from a place called Falaise in France or Failand in Somerset, implying that the bearer originally came from one of these locations.
Another line of evidence points to a French influence. The Old French word faule, meaning foul or oily, rings a bell in early medieval contexts where it was used to describe those who collected and sold oil and fat for various trades. In the Middle Ages it has been recorded that individuals bearing the name were merchants, shopkeepers, oilmen, candlemakers or tannery owners. By the early 18th century the occupational sense appears to have solidified into a hereditary surname. The name has since been predominantly found in England and in the United States, where it is most common in the states of Maine, Massachusetts and Virginia.
The surname Faull remains relatively uncommon throughout the United Kingdom, but it is most frequently encountered in England, especially in the eastern counties of London and Yorkshire. Historical migration patterns, notably during the Victorian era, have concentrated the name in the south‑east as well. In south Wales, particularly Pembrokeshire, the surname can also be found, suggesting a long‑standing presence in that region, possibly linked to earlier Welsh–English movement or to the spread of Norman families.
Several notable individuals have borne the surname. Among them William Faull, a disciplinarian headmaster at Rugby School in the late 19th century, and Albert Faull, a celebrated painting artist of the early 20th century. These figures illustrate that the name has been associated with a range of professions and social standing over the past two centuries.
Today the surname is associated with numerous variants that appear in different linguistic contexts, although the most common forms remain Fawl, Fowle, Fallow and Foul. While these variants have been recorded across the British Isles and in the United States, the core orthography Faull is recognised as a distinct family name that carries with it a history of patronymic origin, possible topographical links and an early connection to the oil trade.
In conclusion, the surname Faull demonstrates how a single family name can reflect multiple threads of linguistic heritage, ranging from Old Norse personal names to Old English topographical descriptors and medieval occupational titles. Its persistence through the centuries attests to the resilience of such surnames within the English-speaking world.
Typical given names associated with the Faull surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- John
- Jonathan
- Michael
- Nicholas
- Peter
- Robert
- Roger
- Steven
- Stuart
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Cynthia
- Elizabeth
- Gloria
- Heather
- Janet
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Michele
- Michelle
- Odile
- Samantha
- 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 Faull in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
There are approximately 368 people named Faull in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around six in a million people in Britain are named Faull.
Origin: Anglo-Saxon
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Faull
- Jonathan Faull - European Union official
- Vivienne Faull - Dean of York; Dean of Leicester; first female dean; only female provost
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.