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

Fells, 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 Fells surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fells in America

Fells is the 15080th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fells surname appeared 1,956 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Fells.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fells 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 Fells

The surname "FELLS" is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "fell," which meant a hill or mountainous region. The name likely originated in the northern counties of England, such as Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmorland, where the term "fell" was commonly used to describe the rugged, hilly terrain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Fellis," indicating a family or individual residing in or near a fell or hill. This early form of the name suggests a connection to a specific geographic location, possibly a manor or estate situated on a fell.

The surname "FELLS" continued to appear in various records throughout the Middle Ages and beyond. For example, in the 13th century, a Richard de Fellis is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Westmorland, indicating the presence of the name in that region.

Notable individuals with the surname "FELLS" include John Fells (1625-1670), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the principal of St. Edmund Hall, Oxford. Another prominent figure was Robert Fells (1799-1855), a British politician and Member of Parliament for Grimsby.

In the 18th century, a family of Fells resided in the village of Longtown, Cumbria, where they were landowners and farmers. One member of this family, John Fells (1710-1789), was a renowned clockmaker whose works are still highly prized by collectors today.

The name "FELLS" has also been associated with various place names in northern England, such as Fellside and Fells Rigg, further reinforcing its connection to the local geography and landscape.

Throughout history, the surname "FELLS" has maintained a strong presence in the northern counties of England, particularly in areas where the Old English word "fell" was commonly used to describe the local terrain. While the name has spread to other parts of the country and beyond, its roots remain firmly embedded in the rugged landscapes of northern England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fells

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

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

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

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