Find out how popular the last name Fanning is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Fanning.

Fanning, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Fanning surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fanning in America

Fanning is the 3284th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fanning surname appeared 11,007 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Fanning.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fanning to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Fanning

The surname Fanning is of Irish origin and derives from the Gaelic personal name Fionnán, meaning "fair" or "white." The name was initially widespread in the counties of Tipperary, Limerick, and Cork, where it was particularly prevalent.

The earliest recorded instance of the Fanning surname dates back to the 13th century, appearing in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The Annals mention a prominent clan member, Domnall Ó Fionnáin, who was a notable figure during this period.

In the 16th century, the Fanning family was closely associated with the territory of Ormond, which encompassed parts of modern-day Tipperary and Kilkenny. Several members of the clan held influential positions within the Butler dynasty, who ruled over Ormond as earls.

One notable individual bearing the Fanning surname was Edmund Fanning (1737-1818), a British loyalist during the American Revolutionary War. He served as a lieutenant colonel in the King's American Regiment and later became the lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Another prominent figure was Nathaniel Fanning (1755-1805), an American naval officer and privateer during the American Revolutionary War. He famously captured several British ships and earned a reputation as a daring and skilled seaman.

In the 19th century, John Fanning Watson (1779-1860), an American writer and antiquarian, made significant contributions to the preservation of Philadelphia's history. His works, such as "Annals of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania in the Olden Time," became invaluable resources for understanding the city's early history.

In the realm of literature, Irish writer John Fanning (1855-1932) gained recognition for his novels and short stories, which often explored themes of Irish rural life. His works, including "Mr. Dooley's Philosophy" and "The Cheery Way," earned him critical acclaim.

Another notable bearer of the Fanning surname was Robert Fanning (1882-1942), an American inventor and engineer. He is credited with developing the first successful electric dishwasher, which revolutionized household appliances and paved the way for modern dishwashing technology.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fanning

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Fanning.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Fanning was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Fanning has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Fanning was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Fanning, please contact us.

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