Fowles

Fowles is an English surname. The name appears in medieval records with spellings such as Fowles, Fowls, and Fowell, and is generally considered to be either occupational or descriptive. It likely derives from the Middle English word fowle or fowl, meaning a bird, or from a toponym referring to a place associated with birds or a keeper of birds. The surname is found across England and in countries with English-speaking populations, due to migration and diaspora.

Notable people with the surname include John Fowles (1926–2005), a British novelist best known for The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1969). His works are often cited for their metafictional technique and exploration of human freedom within social constraints.

Variants and related surnames such as Fowell and Fowls may appear in historical records, reflecting the fluid spelling conventions of earlier centuries. The name Fowles is primarily encountered as a family surname rather than a common noun or place name.

See also

- Fowle (surname)

- Fowell (surname)

- Fowls (disambiguation)