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

Fearing, 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 Fearing surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fearing in America

Fearing is the 24260th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fearing surname appeared 1,034 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Fearing.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fearing 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 Fearing

The surname Fearing is of English origin and dates back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "fær," which means "danger" or "peril." The name was likely initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone who exhibited a sense of caution or fear.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fearing can be found in the records of the town of Bray, Berkshire, England, in 1587. The entry mentions a John Fearing who was a resident of the town at that time. Additionally, the surname appears in the parish records of Watlington, Oxfordshire, in the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the Fearing family gained prominence in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, where several members of the family settled. One of the notable individuals was Isaac Fearing, who was born in 1624 in England and immigrated to Massachusetts in 1635. He became a prominent figure in the colony and served as a deputy to the General Court.

Another significant figure with the Fearing surname was Reverend John Fearing, who was born in 1587 in England and later emigrated to Massachusetts in 1638. He served as the first minister of the town of Hingham, Massachusetts, and played a crucial role in the early religious life of the colony.

In the 18th century, the Fearing family continued to establish themselves in various parts of New England. One notable member was Capt. Benjamin Fearing, who was born in 1727 in Massachusetts and served in the Revolutionary War. He fought in several battles, including the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Battle of Saratoga.

Moving forward to the 19th century, the Fearing surname can be found in various parts of the United States and England. One prominent individual was Daniel Butler Fearing, who was born in 1809 in Massachusetts and became a successful businessman and philanthropist. He played a significant role in the development of the city of Newport, Rhode Island.

Another notable figure was Paul Fearing, who was born in 1872 in Ohio and became a renowned psychologist and philosopher. He made significant contributions to the field of psychology and is known for his work on fear and anxiety disorders.

Throughout history, the Fearing surname has been associated with various professions, including clergy, military service, business, and academia. While the name may have originated from a descriptive nickname, it has evolved to represent a diverse range of individuals and their accomplishments across various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fearing

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

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 Fearing 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 Fearing 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 Fearing was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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