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

Fell, 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 Fell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fell in America

Fell is the 5414th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fell surname appeared 6,429 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Fell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fell to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Fell

The surname Fell is of English origin, derived from the Old English word 'fell,' meaning a hill or high ground. This surname first emerged in the northern counties of England, particularly in areas such as Lancashire and Yorkshire, where the landscape is characterized by hills and fells.

The name Fell is believed to have originated as a descriptive surname, given to someone who lived on or near a hill or fell. It may have also been an occupational surname for someone who worked on the fells, such as a shepherd or a farmer.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fell can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from the year 1197, where a Richard de Fell is mentioned. The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Fell, but it does mention several place names containing the word 'fell,' such as Felmingham in Norfolk and Felkingham in Lincolnshire.

In the 13th century, the surname Fell appeared in various records, including the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire from 1260, which mention a William del Fell. During this time, the name was often spelled with different variations, such as Fell, Felle, and Felle.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Fell was John Fell (1625-1686), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Bishop of Oxford and was instrumental in the establishment of the Oxford University Press.

Another prominent figure was Ralph Fell (1615-1698), a Quaker and philanthropist from Swarthmoor Hall in Cumbria. He played a significant role in the early development of the Quaker movement and was a close associate of George Fox, the founder of the Society of Friends.

In the realm of literature, John Fell (1735-1797) was an English author and biographer who wrote extensively on the lives of poets and other literary figures.

Samuel Fell (1784-1843) was a notable British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and became a Rear Admiral in the Royal Navy.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Fell in the United States can be traced back to John Fell, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 and settled in the colony.

While these are just a few examples, the surname Fell has a rich history spanning several centuries and can be found in various regions across England and beyond, reflecting the diverse origins and stories of those who bore this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fell

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

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 Fell 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Fell has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Fell was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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