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 Falk family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Falk Family History

Falk Surname Meaning

German: from Middle High German valke ‘falcon’ hence a nickname for someone thought to resemble a falcon in some way (e.g. for a sharp-eyed resolute person) or a metonymic occupational name for a falconer. This surname is also found in the Netherlands (compare Valk) and in France (Alsace and Lorraine).

German: from the old personal name Falko. Jewish (Ashkenazic): from German Falke ‘falcon’ or Yiddish falk ‘falcon’ either an ornamental name or from this word used as a personal name.

Scandinavian: ornamental name from falk ‘falcon’. English: variant of Faulks.

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 Falk family from?

You can see how Falk families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Falk family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Falk families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 75 Falk families living in London. This was about 55% of all the recorded Falk's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Falk families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Falk 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 Falk ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Cabinet Maker and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Falk. 42% of Falk men worked as a Cabinet Maker and 77% of Falk women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Falk were Private Means and Millinery Trimmer.

View Census Data for Falk | 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

  • Cabinet Maker
    42%
  • Retired
    12%
  • Military Tailor (master)
    12%
  • Private Means
    12%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    77%
  • Private Means
    5%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Millinery Trimmer
    4%

What Falk family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 70,000 census records available for the last name Falk. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Falk census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Falk

Passenger Lists

There are 24,000 immigration records available for the last name Falk. 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 Falk immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 15,000 military records available for the last name Falk. For the veterans among your Falk ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Falk military records

You've only scratched the surface of Falk family history

Discover More

What is the average Falk lifespan?

Between 1946 and 2004, in the United States, Falk life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1951, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Falk in 1946 was 52, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Falk

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Falk 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 Falk family tree

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