FELLOWS
Fellows is a surname of English provenance, situated within the broader cultural and linguistic tapestry of the British Isles. The name is traditionally associated with England, and historical records indicate that bearers of the surname were predominantly adherents of Christianity.
The etymology of Fellows is rooted in the Middle English term felawe, signifying a companion or comrade. This Middle English word itself derived from the medieval forms felagh or felaw, which trace back to late Old English feolaga meaning a partner or shareholder. The ultimate source is Old Norse felagi, a term denoting a partner or companion. Throughout the evolution of the English language, the word developed a professional connotation, initially applied to members of guilds or professional associations, and over time came to refer to a partner or associate within a trade or business. The surname is therefore understood to denote an individual who was a fellow or colleague, emphasising social or professional affiliation.
Historical documentation first attests the name in the early fifteenth century. It appears in the 1256 Assize Court Rolls of Northumberland as Walter Felagh and in the 1327 Subsidy Rolls of Sussex as Robert le Felagh. Earlier records, found in the 1150 catalogue of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield in Staffordshire, list a Richard Felawe. These early entries confirm the surname’s English character and its continuity from the late twelfth century onward.
The patronymic forms of the name include Fellows and Fellowes. The terminal s is recognised as a contracted form of “son of (Fellow)”, a common feature of English surnames that indicates lineage. While the exact geographic distribution of the surname has fluctuated over time, contemporary registries still record bearers across various counties in England, signalling a persistent, though not exceedingly common, presence of the name.
In the realm of historical scholarship, a prominent individual bearing this surname was Sir Charles Fellows (1799–1860). As a traveller, archaeologist and numismatologist, Sir Charles conducted explorations in Lycia, uncovering thirteen ancient cities after 1839. His 1841 publication, An Account of Discoveries in Lycia, remains a significant reference for classical studies, highlighting the pride associated with this surname in academic circles.
Today, the Fellows surname continues to carry its original sense of companionship and professional affiliation. Variants such as Fellowes persist, reflecting the historical linguistic shift from patronymic naming conventions to fixed family names within the English-speaking world.
Typical given names associated with the Fellows surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Christine
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Janet
- Joan
- Joanne
- Julie
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Fellowes
- Fallows
- Fallow
- Fallo
- Falls
- Feallows
- Falows
- Fallowes
- Fellow
- Faiello
- Failes
- Faillace
- Failles
- Fails
- Falaise
- Falaize
- Falase
- Falce
- Fales
- Falese
- Falis
- Falisi
- Falize
- Fallace
- Fallais
- Fallaise
- Fallaize
- Fallas
- Fallass
- Falles
- Fallis
- Falliss
- Fallons
- Falloway
- Falso
- Falusi
- Faules
- Faulls
- Faulos
- Fauls
- Fawles
- Fawls
- Feales
- Feeles
- Felce
- Feles
- Felice
- Felici
- Felicio
- Felis
- Felisi
- Feliz
- Felizzi
- Fell
- Fellas
- Felles
- Fellis
- Fello
- Felloes
- Fellon
- Fellons
- Fellous
- Fellowe
- Fells
- Fellus
- Felons
- Felowes
- Fels
- Felse
- Felus
- Felz
- Fewlas
- Fewlass
- Fewless
- Fiallos
- Fiello
- Filas
- Filce
- Files
- Filias
- Filice
- Filios
- Filis
- Filius
- Filiz
- Filles
- Fillies
- Fillis
- Fills
- Filos
- Filosa
- Filose
- Filosi
- Fils
- Filus
- Filz
- Flais
- Flasse
- Flasz
- Flasza
- Flaus
- Flause
- Flaws
- Fleece
- Flees
- Fleiss
- Fles
- Fleuss
- Fliess
- Flis
- Fliss
- Flos
- Floss
- Flows
- Flues
- Fluss
- Flys
- Foales
- Foals
- Foils
- Follas
- Folles
- Follis
- Folliss
- Follos
- Follows
- Fols
- Folse
- Folz
- Fools
- Foules
- Foulis
- Fouls
- Fowles
- Fowlis
- Fowls
- Foyles
- Fulci
- Fullis
- Fulls
- Fyles
- Pheils
- Phellas
- Phels
- Philis
- Phillas
- Phillies
- Phillis
- Phills
- Phils
- Phyllis
- Vailes
- Vails
- Valas
- Vales
- Valesi
- Valez
- Valice
- Valios
- Valis
- Valius
- Vallace
- Vallaeys
- Vallas
- Valles
- Vallese
- Vallez
- Vallice
- Vallis
- Vallius
- Vallois
- Vallow
- Valls
- Valluzzi
- Vallys
- Valois
- Vals
- Valussi
- Vauls
- Veales
- Vealls
- Veals
- Vehlow
- Veils
- Velez
- Velis
- Veliz
- Vellios
- Vellis
- Vellos
- Vellosa
- Velloza
- Vells
- Velos
- Velosa
- Veloso
- Velow
- Veloz
- Veloza
- Velozo
- Vels
- Velussi
- Veluz
- Vialls
- Vials
- Vilas
- Vilcea
- Viles
- Vilius
- Villas
- Villez
- Villeza
- Villias
- Villis
- Vills
- Villus
- Vilos
- Vilus
- Violas
- Vlas
- Vlase
- Vlasi
- Vlies
- Voelz
- Voiels
- Voils
- Voles
- Volles
- Volos
- Volz
- Vouels
- Voules
- Vowles
- Vowls
- Voyles
- Vulliez
- Vyles
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Fellows in...
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There are approximately 9,309 people named Fellows in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,013th most common surname in Britain. Around 143 in a million people in Britain are named Fellows.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Fellows
- Graham Fellows - Comedian and musician
- Marion Fellows - Scottish politician
- Gary Fellows - County cricketer
- Charlie Fellows - Artistic gymnast
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.