Surname Falls - Meaning and Origin
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Falls: What does the surname Falls mean?
The surname Falls is of English origin and has a variety of possible meanings, though most likely it has an occupational origin, derived from the noun "fall," which could mean "a small waterfall" or "a steep drop." It may also refer to someone who dealt with waterfalls, either as a fish merchant or miller, or to one who lived near a waterfall. Alternatively, the name may have derived from the Old English word "fealle," meaning "slope" or "descent," referring to a geographic feature such as a hill or a valley.
In the Middle Ages, when England's population was rapidly increasing, the English needed names to distinguish one family from another. As a result, many surnames referred to a physical feature, such as a body of water, or a field. The Falls surname likely originated with an ancestor who was named for the place where he lived.
The family name Falls can be found in many different locations throughout the British Isles, with variants such as Fauls and Fawles. It is still fairly common in England and Scotland today, and can also be found among families in the United States who originally emigrated from the British Isles.
Order DNA origin analysisFalls: Where does the name Falls come from?
The last name Falls is common today primarily in English speaking countries, such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. It is also present in other traditionally British areas, such as South Africa, India, and Ireland. Besides having multiple points of origin, the Falls surname may have been adopted by people who moved from one of those countries to another.
The origin of the Falls surname is believed to have multiple points of origin. Some sources suggest that it is derived from French words meaning "to fall", while others suggest that the Falls surname originated in England, Scotland, or Ireland. The Scottish origin of the Falls surname is likely the result of a contraction of the old Gaelic word "falsach", meaning "the ledge of a hill".
In the US, the 2000 Census reported the Falls last name as having more than 8,250 people, with a majority of bearers being located in southern states such as Alabama, Missouri, Kentucky, Virginia, and Texas. In Australia, the Falls surname currently ranks as the 5,458th most common name. The largest concentrations of the surname there are found in the Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales states.
The Falls surname is also common in other parts of the world, such as parts of Latin America, particularly in countries such as Chile, Cuba, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Nicaragua. The name is also present in Europe, with most of its bearers living in Spain, France, and Germany.
Variations of the surname Falls
The surname Falls is derived from the Middle English word “falle,” and is found in various contexts in the British Isles. The most common variants of the surname Falls are Fall, Faul, Fallis, Falles, and Fallow.
The following list of spellings and surnames of Falls can be found in various early records: Faulle, Falles, Fayles, Fales, Falle, Fayles, Falys, Feiles, Fallee, Faulse, Fause, Faile, Faulles, Failles, Falley, Fallis, Falleys, and Fallowe.
The Fallis spelling is the most prevalent of these variants, and is most commonly found in Northumberland, Cumberland, and West Riding of Yorkshire. The Fallow spelling is also found in the West Riding of Yorkshire, while the Fail/Fayle, Falle/Faulle, Falles, and Falley variants were more commonly found in East Anglia.
Other variants of the Falls surname are found around the world. In Ireland, the Fails/Feals, Failes/Fayles, and Faly/Folly variants can be found. In Scotland, the Faile, Faly, and Faillie spellings were also found. In France, the Faille, Fallier, and Falliere variants are occasionally encountered. In Germany, the Faller/Feller, Fallers/Felers, and Fallerin variants can be found. Finally, in the United States, variants such as Feller, Fels, Fales, falls, Fools, and Folles can be found.
Despite the wide range of spellings associated with the surname Falls, all of these variants are presumably derived from the Middle English root word “falle.”
Famous people with the name Falls
- Lance Falls: Actor, former guest artist on America's Got Talent.
- John Falls: Musician and guitarist for metal band Iron Maiden.
- Andy Falls: Led singer and songwriter in the Indie rock band Bright Eyes.
- Robert Falls: Artistic Director at The Goodman Theatre.
- Debra Falls: Broadway actress who appeared in the revival production of “The Music Man”.
- Ben Falls: Film and television actor, best known for his roles in the films “Big Trouble in Little China” and “Napoleon Dynamite”.
- Anna Falls: Award-winning film, television and theater Actress and Lead Singer of Presley Stern.
- Celia Falls: Dancer and choreographer, known for shows such as “Broadway Bares” and “Radio City Music Hall Show”.
- Ashley Falls: Fashion designer and model.
- Jenny Falls: Chef and TV personality, appearing on the popular cooking show “Chopped”.