Surname Foulds - Meaning and Origin

Foulds: What does the surname Foulds mean?

The last name Foulds is of English origin and is derived from the noun "folds," which in turn was derived from the Old English word "fald," meaning a steep place in the side of a hill or a fold in cloth. More specifically, Foulds might be a topographic name, denoting someone who lived on a hillside, or a metonymic occupational name, describing someone who worked with cloth.

The surname Foulds first appeared in records in the mid 13th century in Cheshire, England. Records indicate that William de Foldes and Agna de Foles were listed as witnesses in an Assize Court at Chester in 1245. Variations of the name include Faulds, Folds, Fouldes and Fouldis.

Today, the surname Foulds is fairly common and those bearing the name can be found in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and in some areas of Scotland. The name is also patronymically derived, with the Foulkes family being a notable example of this.

The Foulds family and its various spellings have a long and ancient history, and its members have spread out across the globe, adding to the diverse history of the name.

Foulds: Where does the name Foulds come from?

The last name Foulds is commonly found today in the United Kingdom. The name originates from the Anglo-Saxon language, and likely developed as a variation of the name Field, since 'Foulds' is an old English spelling of 'Fields'.

The surname is most commonly found in England, particularly in the North and Midlands regions. In the 1881 English Census, the top 5 counties where the name was most common included Yorkshire, Lancashire, Oxfordshire, Glamorganshire and Middlesex.

The name Foulds can also be found throughout the United States, especially in the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin and California. In the 1940 U.S. Census, the top 5 states with the most Foulds families were Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Massachusetts and New Jersey.

The Foulds surname has spreading since the 18th century due to emigration, mainly from the UK to the US. As of 2018, the name can be found in many countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.

Today, there are more than 4,000 people around the world with the surname Foulds.

Variations of the surname Foulds

The surname Foulds, also found as Fouldes, Foules, Foules, Fowler, and Foulis, is derived from the Middle English word 'foul' which was used to describe a bird-catcher. This name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and originally referred to an aviary keeper or one who tended a falconry, a sport or hobby in which trained birds of prey were released to catch game.

Variations of the surname Foulds include Fowlds, Fouldes, Foules, Fowler, and Foulis. It can also be found spelled as Fowles, Fowels, and Fowels.

The most common form of the surname is Foulds. It is found mainly in England, Scotland, and Ireland with particular concentrations in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Durham, and Northumberland in England and Gaspe in Quebec, Canada.

The variants Fowlds and Foulis are mainly found in Scotland, with smaller concentrations in England, Ireland, and Canada. This version of the surname is derived from the Old French word "Foullis," meaning “dart or spear.”

Foules is another variant found mainly in England but is less common than the other forms. It is an old Anglo-Saxon spelling, derived from the Old English words “fugol” and “folese” both meaning bird. It is also linked to “fawl” which means one who caught or sold birds, which is also the root of the surname Foulds.

The surname Fowler is the Anglo-Saxon form of the name. It is usually found in Northern England and could also be given to a person who lived by a bird sanctuary. The Old English word “fugelere” was used to refer to a falconer or one who trained a bird of prey for sport or hunting.

In conclusion, the surname Foulds has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. It is believed to have come from an old Anglo-Saxon word referring to a person that caught, sold or trained birds. It is found mainly in England, Scotland, and Ireland, with concentrations of the particular variants located in the countries' various regions.

Famous people with the name Foulds

• Andrew Foulds: a Canadian musician, composer, and multi-instrumentalist.
• John Foulds: a British composer of classical and world music.
• Joseph Foulds: an English composer and musician.
• Kevin Foulds: a professional British footballer who played for Leeds United in the late 1980s.
• Rick Foulds: a retired professional ice hockey player and an assistant coach for the NHL's Anaheim Ducks.
• Robert Foulds: a former bassist for the British band Jethro Tull.
• Charlie Foulds: an English professional footballer who plays for Bolton Wanderers.
• George Foulds: an English professional footballer who plays for Walsall.
• William Foulds: an English cricketer who played for Leicestershire County Cricket Club.
• Clarke Foulds: a retired Canadian ice hockey forward.
• Adam Foulds: an English poet, novelist, and winner of the 2009 Costa Prize.
• Tom Foulds: a British politician and lawyer who previously served as a Member of Parliament for Stockport Clitheroe between 1866 and 1867.
• Susan Foulds: an American composer and pianist who has released several albums.
• Reginald Foulds: a former English cricketer who played for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club.
• Rupert Foulds: a British actor, best known for his role in the television series The Bill.

Other surnames

FouldFouldes