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

Fellows, 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 Fellows surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fellows in America

Fellows is the 4469th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fellows surname appeared 7,948 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Fellows.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fellows 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 Fellows

The surname Fellows has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "feolaga," which means companion or partner. In the early days, the name was often given to people who were members of a guild or fellowship.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fellows can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Felagh." This suggests that the name was already in use during the Norman Conquest of England.

During the 13th century, the name was commonly spelled as "Felawe" or "Felaw." It was particularly prevalent in the counties of Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Herefordshire, where many Fellows families were based.

One notable historical figure with the surname Fellows was John Fellows (c. 1670-1724), an English painter and engraver who was best known for his portraits and landscapes. He was a member of the Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers and is regarded as one of the finest English artists of his time.

Another famous Fellows was Sir Charles Fellows (1799-1860), a British archaeologist and explorer who is credited with rediscovering several ancient cities in Asia Minor, including Xanthos and Tlos. His explorations and excavations contributed significantly to the understanding of classical Greek and Lycian civilizations.

In the 16th century, the name was sometimes associated with place names, such as Fellows Hill in Gloucestershire and Fellows Green in Worcestershire. These place names likely derived from individuals or families with the surname Fellows who lived or owned land in those areas.

John Fellows (c. 1605-1675) was an English Puritan minister and author who served as the rector of Awre in Gloucestershire. He was known for his religious writings and sermons, which were published during his lifetime.

Another notable figure was Robert Fellows (1840-1920), an American lawyer and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York from 1889 to 1891.

Throughout its history, the surname Fellows has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, archaeologists, clergymen, and politicians, among others. While its origins can be traced back to medieval England, the name has since spread to other parts of the world, reflecting the diverse journeys and experiences of those who carry it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fellows

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

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

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

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