Surname Fauld - Meaning and Origin
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Fauld: What does the surname Fauld mean?
The last name Fauld is derived from the Old English word ‘fald’ which means ‘enclosed field’. It was originally given to someone who lived in, owned, or worked on an enclosed field. It was likely used to distinguish different people in the area who had the same name. The Fauld surname is found mainly in Scotland, but there are also some examples in England and Ireland.
The Fauld family has a long and illustrious history, tracing back to the 14th century in Scotland. The first recorded spelling of the name was in 1316 when one Hugh de Faulde was recorded in the Charters of the Abbey of Aberbrothock. By the 17th century other members of the family were recorded in Eddleston, a small village in the Peeblesshire region of Scotland.
The Fauld clan had many branches and sub-branches, the most prominent of which was the Faulds of Mombreck. Other branches were the Faulds of 7 Crescents, Gank, Lochhill, Kincaple and Comrie. Many members of the family were prominent land owners, farmers, miners, merchants, and members of the clergy.
Today, the Fauld surname is still quite common in Scotland and other parts of the United Kingdom. It is also common throughout the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. While the meaning of the name has been lost to time, it still remains a reminder of the proud history of a once prominent family.
Order DNA origin analysisFauld: Where does the name Fauld come from?
The last name Fauld is believed to have originated in Scotland and is still common there today. It is especially prevalent in the Highlands where its Gaelic spelling, Fhaolain, is the eighth most common name in the region.
In Scotland, the popular hubs of Faulds include Glasgow, Edinburgh, Fife, and Dundee. In more recent times, Faulds have spread from Scotland to both England and North America. In England, Faulds can be found in cities such as London, Birmingham, and Manchester. In the United States, people of the Fauld name reside in cities such as New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
Throughout history, Faulds have distinguished themselves by becoming significantly involved in Scottish politics, the Church of Scotland, and banking business. Across the ocean in the United States, many Faulds have overtaken professions such as law enforcement and military service.
Faulds also include a number of artists, including the famous Glasgow-born painter, Robert Fauld and the actor, John Fauld. John Fauld was born in 1932 and often acted in comedic roles alongside comedy legends like Bob Hope and John Wayne.
Considering their origins in Scotland and the places Faulds have migrated to, the last name Fauld remains very popular today, centuries after it first originated.
Variations of the surname Fauld
The surname Fauld is derived from the Gaelic word for a fold or enclosure which was typically used for sheep, and suggests that early bearers of the name may have been involved in the agricultural industry. Throughout the years, this surname has had many variants and spellings, including Faul, Faald, Fald, Faulds, Faulde, Faule, Fauldt, and Fauldes.
In Scotland, the spelling of Faul was quite common, as evidenced by its multiple spellings in historic census records. For example, Keir Fauld in Glasgow in 1638, Johnne Fauld in Dumfries in 1642, and George Fauld in Fife in 1706.
In England, variants such as Faulde and Faule were more common. An example of this can be seen in the records of Buckinghamshire, where Agnes Faule was recorded in 1584. By the late 19th century, variations on the spelling like Faulday, Fauldes and Fauldt were also seen.
In Ireland, the variants of Faald and Fald were the most popular. The Kerry list of deaths from 1841-1870 lists many occurrences of the surname Faald.
In all, there are a wide variety of spellings associated with the surname Fauld, from Faul in Scotland and Faule in England to Faald and Fald in Ireland. Although the original meaning of the name is the same, these different variants can give a family researcher insight into the regional origins of an ancestor who bore any of these various spellings of Fauld.
Famous people with the name Fauld
- June Fauld: a former professional tennis player active in the 1950s and 1960s who was known for her backhand and solid ground strokes.
- UT Fauld: a former professional footballer who made six international appearances for Scotland in the early 1900s.
- Tracy Fauld: a UK contemporary painter and sculptor whose works are held in private and public collections.
- Gordon Fauld: a British sailor who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympic Games and won a gold medal in yachting.
- Peter Fauld: a British composer most well-known for the 1971 hit song, 'Fare Thee Well'.
- Ewan Fauld: a Scottish actor who is known for his role in the 1990 movie 'Cinema Paradiso'.
- John Fauld: a prominent Scottish doctor and academic who wrote extensively on medical ethics and psychosocial aspects of illness.
- Peter Fauld: a British architect renowned for his numerous churches and chapels throughout Scotland built in the late 19th century.
- David Fauld: a Scottish-born lawyer who practiced in Toronto and wrote extensively on jurisprudence.
- Dave Fauld: a professional darts player from Scotland who now resides in the US, actively competing in tournaments within the country and worldwide.