Fed last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Fed

A surname indicating one's ancestors were well-nourished or prosperous.

Fed, 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 Fed surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fed in America

Fed is the 160975th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fed surname appeared 100 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 Fed.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fed 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 160975 143847 11.24%
Count 100 106 -5.83%
Proportion per 100k 0.03 0.04 -28.57%

The history of the last name Fed

The surname "Fed" has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "fede," which means "to nourish" or "to feed." This suggests that the name may have been originally associated with someone whose occupation involved providing food or sustenance, such as a farmer, miller, or baker.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a man named Walter Fed is mentioned as residing in Cambridgeshire. This document serves as a valuable historical reference for surnames and their geographical distribution during that time period.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in various forms, including "Fede," "Fedde," and "Fedd," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common before the standardization of English orthography. One notable example is John Fede, who was born around 1320 in Leicestershire and served as a member of the local gentry.

As the name spread across England, it became associated with certain place names, such as Fedborough in Worcestershire and Fedwell in Oxfordshire. These locations may have been named after individuals bearing the surname, or the name may have been derived from the place names themselves.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure bearing the name was Thomas Fed (1510-1588), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Yorkshire. His success and influence likely contributed to the recognition and spread of the surname during that era.

Another notable individual was William Fed (1647-1712), a scholar and clergyman who served as the Rector of Stoke Bruerne in Northamptonshire. His writings and sermons earned him a reputation as a learned and respected figure in his community.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the surname continued to be present in various parts of England, with records indicating individuals such as Elizabeth Fed (1672-1745), a landowner in Dorset, and John Fed (1718-1792), a successful merchant in Bristol.

While the surname "Fed" is relatively uncommon today, it has a long and intriguing history that spans several centuries and is deeply rooted in the English language and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fed

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

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 Fed was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 13.00% 13
Non-Hispanic Black Only 75.00% 75
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 5.00% 5
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Fed has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 13.00% 32.08% -84.65%
Black 75.00% 55.66% 29.60%
Asian and Pacific Islander 5.00% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races (S)% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic (S)% 8.49% (S)%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Fed last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/fed-surname-popularity/.

"Fed last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/fed-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Fed last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/fed-surname-popularity/.

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