Show ContentsFald History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient Scottish kingdom of Dalriada is thought to be the home of the ancestors of the Fald family. Their name comes from someone having lived in the shires of Ayr, Renfrew, Lanark, and Perth, (now part of the Strathclyde region), and there were also lands of East and West Faulds in the lordship of Dudop or Dudhope near Dundee. 1

The surname Faulds is also derived from the Old English word falod, or fold, which indicates that the original bearer of this surname lived by or near an enclosure where cattle were kept. Faulds was also an occupational name for one who worked at the sheep-fold, or for a person who was a shepherd. There is also a place-name Folds in an ancient parish in Bolton, county Lancashire, England. 2

Early Origins of the Fald family

The surname Fald was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

One of the first records of the family is John of Fawls of Leith who imported salmon into London in 1438. Later, Arthur Fauldis held land in Glasgow, 1536, and Archibald Faullis was merchant burgess there, 1642. 1

Early History of the Fald family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fald research. Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1438, 1536, 1642, 1666, 1672, 1674 and 1684 are included under the topic Early Fald History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fald Spelling Variations

In the Middle Ages, the translation between Gaelic and English was not a highly developed process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and so, an enormous number of spelling variations appear in records of early Scottish names. Fald has appeared as Faulds, Fawls, Fauldis, Fauls and others.

Early Notables of the Fald family

More information is included under the topic Early Fald Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Fald family to Ireland

Some of the Fald family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Fald family

Dalriadan families proliferated in North America. Their descendants still populate many communities in the eastern parts of both the United States and Canada. Some settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists, in the wake of the American War of Independence. Families on both sides of the border have recovered much of their heritage in the 20th century through Clan societies and highland games. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Fald or a variant listed above: Joseph Faulds purchased land in Georgia in 1735. Alexander joined other transplanted Scotsmen in Philadelphia in 1834. Over the next fifty years the Faulds family surname was included among those who made the long trek to San Francisco..



The Fald Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Mente manuque praesto
Motto Translation: Ready with heart and hand.


  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)


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