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

Follis, 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 Follis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Follis in America

Follis is the 15651st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Follis surname appeared 1,866 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 Follis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Follis 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 Follis

The surname Follis has its origins in England and dates back to the late medieval period. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English word "folgere," which means "follower" or "servant." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who was a follower or servant of a prominent person or household.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Follis can be found in various historical records, such as the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and resources commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, including Follius, Folliis, and Follys, reflecting the variations in spelling common during that time.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Follis was Sir William Follis, a knight who lived in the late 13th century. He was a prominent figure in the court of King Edward I and served as a diplomat and military commander during the Scottish Wars of Independence.

Another notable figure was John Follis, a merchant and landowner who lived in the 15th century. He was a prominent member of the Guild of Mercers in London and owned several properties in the city. Records indicate that he was involved in the wool trade and played a significant role in the economic life of London during that period.

In the 16th century, the Follis family had established themselves in various parts of England, with branches in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. One notable member was Thomas Follis (1545-1612), a clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Chester and was known for his scholarly works on theology and church history.

During the 17th century, the name Follis was also found in parts of Scotland, where it was sometimes spelled as Fullys or Foulles. One notable Scottish bearer of the name was Robert Follis (1670-1743), a merchant and politician who served as a member of the Scottish Parliament and was involved in the Union of Scotland and England in 1707.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Follis family continued to be present in various regions of England and Scotland, with some members achieving prominence in various fields, including law, politics, and the military.

It is worth noting that the surname Follis has also been associated with certain place names, such as Follis Hill in Herefordshire, England, and Follis Farm in Gloucestershire, suggesting that the name may have originated from specific locations or landholdings.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Follis

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

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

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

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