This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Folan family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Folan Family History

Folan Surname Meaning

Irish: shortened Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Faoláin ‘descendant of Faolán’ (see Phelan Whelan) or possibly from Mac Faoláin or its variant Mac Fhualáin ‘son of Faolán’ the same personal name based on the diminutive of faol ‘wolf’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Folan family from?

You can see how Folan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Folan family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Folan families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 17 Folan families living in Yorkshire. This was about 29% of all the recorded Folan's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Folan families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Folan surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Folan ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Folan. 42% of Folan men worked as a General Labourer and 75% of Folan women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Folan were Labourer Bricklayer and Domestic Servant.

View Census Data for Folan | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    42%
  • Builders Labourer
    25%
  • Contractors Labourer
    17%
  • Labourer Bricklayer
    17%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Domestic Servant
    25%

What Folan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 9,000 census records available for the last name Folan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Folan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Folan

Passenger Lists

There are 4,000 immigration records available for the last name Folan. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Folan immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 902 military records available for the last name Folan. For the veterans among your Folan ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Folan military records

You've only scratched the surface of Folan family history

Discover More

What is the average Folan lifespan?

Between 1950 and 2004, in the United States, Folan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1950, and highest in 1988. The average life expectancy for Folan in 1950 was 39, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Folan

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Folan ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Folan family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial