Fallow

Fallow
This most interesting surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is a topographical name for a dweller by the newly cultivated land or fallow land, from the Olde English pre 7th Century word "fealh", Middle English "falwe", fallow. This word was used both of land which was left uncultivated for a time to recover its fertility, and of land which was recently brought into cultivation. In some instances, the surname may have been a ickname for someone with tawny hair, from the Olde English "fealu", Middle English "fallow", yellow, tawny. The "-s" ending indicates a genitive form of the name (which indicates "of" a place). The modern surname can be found as Fallow, Fallows, and Fallowes. The earliest known namebearer was given lands so named in the parish of Nether Alderley, Cheshire, by his brother Henry de Aldford, both descended from Robert Bigot, a companion of William the Conqueror, who was granted extensive estates in Cheshire. Other early examples include Ralph de la Falewe (Hampshire, 1272); Henry de Falg(h) (Sussex, 1327); and Thomas del Falghes (Cheshire, 1376). Fearon Fallows (1789 - 1831) was a notable astronomer, who catalogued the chief southern stars (1824) and was also director of the astronomical observatory at the Cape of Good Hope. A Coat of Arms was granted to a Fallowes family at Fallowes in Cheshire, a younger branch of the Aldford family, which depicts a gold camel on a green shield. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert del Falwiz, which was dated circa 1190, in the "Cheshire Records", during the reign of King Richard 1, known as "The Lionheart", 1189 - 1199. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • fallow — fal‧low [ˈfæləʊ ǁ loʊ] adjective 1. FARMING fallow land has been dug but is not being used for growing crops, giving the quality of the soil a chance to improve: • fallow land • a fallow field 2. lie fallow FARMING if …   Financial and business terms

  • Fallow — Fal low, n. [So called from the fallow, or somewhat yellow, color of naked ground; or perh. akin to E. felly, n., cf. MHG. valgen to plow up, OHG. felga felly, harrow.] 1. Plowed land. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Who . . . pricketh his blind horse over …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fallow — Fal low, a. [AS. fealu, fealo, pale yellow or red; akin to D. vaal fallow, faded, OHG. falo, G. falb, fahl, Icel. f[ o]lr, and prob. to Lith. palvas, OSlav. plav[u^] white, L. pallidus pale, pallere to be pale, Gr. polio s gray, Skr. palita. Cf.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fallow — fallow1 [fal′ō] n. [ME falow < OE fealh, akin to fealh, harrow, felly (of wheel) < IE base * pelk , to turn > Gael olca, fallow land] 1. land plowed but not seeded for one or more growing seasons, to kill weeds, make the soil richer, etc …   English World dictionary

  • Fallow — Fal low, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Fallowed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Fallowing}.] [From {Fallow}, n.] To plow, harrow, and break up, as land, without seeding, for the purpose of destroying weeds and insects, and rendering it mellow; as, it is profitable to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fallow — ► ADJECTIVE 1) (of farmland) ploughed and harrowed but left for a period without being sown. 2) characterized by inactivity. 3) (of a sow) not pregnant. ► NOUN ▪ a piece of fallow land. DERIVATIVES fallowness noun …   English terms dictionary

  • fallow — index barren, idle, otiose, unproductive Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • fallow — [adj] inactive dormant, idle, inert, neglected, quiescent, resting, slack, uncultivated, undeveloped, unplanted, unplowed, unproductive, unseeded, untilled, unused, vacant, virgin; concepts 485,560 Ant. active, cultivated, developed, used …   New thesaurus

  • fallow — {{11}}fallow (adj.) pale yellow, brownish yellow, O.E. fealu reddish yellow, yellowish brown, tawny, dusk colored, from P.Gmc. *falwa (Cf. O.S. falu, O.N. fölr, M.Du. valu, Du. vaal, O.H.G. falo, Ger. falb), from PIE *pal wo dark colored, gray… …   Etymology dictionary

  • fallow — [[t]fæ̱loʊ[/t]] 1) ADJ Fallow land has been dug or ploughed but nothing has been planted in it, especially so that its quality or strength has a chance to improve. ...great red barns in empty fallow fields... The fields lay fallow. 2) ADJ: usu… …   English dictionary

  • fallow — I. adjective Etymology: Middle English falow, from Old English fealu; akin to Old High German falo pale, fallow, Latin pallēre to be pale, Greek polios gray Date: before 12th century of a light yellowish brown color II. noun Etymology: Middle… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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