This name, with variant spelling Fala, is of Scottish territorial origin from the lands of Fala in Midlothian. The name is believed to derive from the Medieval English "falwe", (ultimately from the Olde English pre 7th century "falh"), meaning "fallow" i.e. a piece of ploughed ground left uncropped for a year or more. The surname from this source was first recorded in the latter part of the 12th century (see below). One, Bartholomew de Faulaw was witness to a charter in favour of the House of Sottre between the years 1214 and 1240. One George de Falow was provost of Edinburgh in 1421. The variant spellings Fallawe, Fawlo, Faulo and Falowe appear on record in Scotland during the period 1426 - 1453. James Fala was a tenant under the Abbey of Kelso in 1567. On June 24th 1723 William Falla and Janet Veitch were married in Edinburgh, Midlothian The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Radulf Falahe, charter witness which was dated circa 1165 - in the Register of Paisley Monastery, during the reign of King William the Lion of Scotland, 1166 - 1214. 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.