Find out how popular the last name Falaise is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Falaise.

Falaise, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Falaise surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Falaise in America

Falaise is the 137327th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Falaise surname appeared 122 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Falaise.

The history of the last name Falaise

The surname Falaise originated in Normandy, France, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Norman French words "fal" meaning "cliff" or "steep rock" and "aise" meaning "settlement" or "dwelling place." The name likely referred to someone who lived near or came from the town of Falaise, known for its imposing cliff and castle.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Falaise can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as Falesia and Falise, reflecting the linguistic evolution of the time.

One notable historical figure with this surname was Guillaume de Falaise, a Norman knight who accompanied William the Conqueror during the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. He was rewarded with lands in Essex for his service and played a significant role in the establishment of Norman rule in England.

In the 13th century, Robert de Falaise (born c. 1210) was a prominent ecclesiastic who served as the Bishop of Lincoln from 1258 to 1282. He was known for his efforts in promoting education and establishing grammar schools within his diocese.

Another individual of note was Jean de Falaise (c. 1330–1396), a French nobleman and military commander who fought in the Hundred Years' War. He distinguished himself in several battles and was appointed as the Seneschal of Normandy in 1389.

During the Renaissance period, the surname was carried by the French philosopher and writer Théodore Agrippa d'Aubigné (1552–1630), whose mother's maiden name was Falaise. He is remembered for his satirical works and his involvement in the French Wars of Religion.

In the 18th century, Jacques-Gervais Falaise (1706–1770) was a renowned French architect who designed several notable buildings in Paris, including the Hôtel de Roquelaure and the Château de Chantilly.

These examples illustrate the historical presence and significance of the surname Falaise, which has its roots in the Norman region of France and has been associated with individuals from various walks of life throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Falaise

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Falaise.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Falaise was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Falaise was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Falaise, please contact us.

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