Faulder Family Genealogy Faulder Family Genealogy

17 August, 2010

The Origin of the Faulder Surname

  • Suggestion that “Faulder” is a corruption of “Folder”, one associated with (Sheep) Folds.
  • However, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) suggests that the modern word “Fold” (as in “A pen or enclosure for domestic animals, esp. sheep”) is derived from the Old English “Fald” – this would suggest that it is the “Fold” spelling which is the corruption.
  • The OED entry for “Fauld” also gives the following examples (amongst others):
    • 1788 BURNS My Hoggie ii, The lee-lang night we watch’d the fauld, Me and my faithfu’ doggie.
    • c1470 Henry the Minstrel, The actis and deidis of the illustere and vailßeand campioun Schir William Wallace v. 177 Twa scheipe thai tuk besid thaim of a fauld.
    • 1802 R. ANDERSON Cumberland ballads 49 Auld Marget in the fauld she sits.
  • The Scottish Tour guide, Sandy Stevenson, notesopen new window that “fauld” is an alternative Scots word for “field”.
  • Also within Scottish phonology, it is noted that “auld” often reduces to the modern “old” – again supporting the argument that “Fold” is a corruption of “Fauld”.
  • An alternative derivation of the surname is that it is derived from a maker of “faulds”. A “Fauld” is the piece of articulated armour that straps onto the bottom of the breastplate. It usually consists of two or four flared pieces called lames. (Example (bytheswordinc.com)open new window)

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