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

Feener, 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 Feener surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Feener in America

Feener is the 89069th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Feener surname appeared 208 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 Feener.

We can also compare 2010 data for Feener 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 Feener

The surname FEENER is believed to have originated in Germany during the medieval period. It is derived from the German word "fener," which means "fire tender" or "keeper of the fire." This suggests that the name was likely associated with someone who worked with fire, such as a blacksmith or a furnace operator.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name FEENER can be found in the chronicles of the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, where a certain Hans FEENER is mentioned in 1492 as a skilled metalworker. The name also appears in various guild records from the 15th and 16th centuries, indicating that it was a common occupational surname among artisans and tradesmen of the time.

In the 17th century, the FEENER family spread across different regions of Germany, with records showing their presence in cities like Nuremberg, Augsburg, and Munich. During this period, the name underwent slight variations in spelling, such as FEHNER, FEYNER, and FEINER, reflecting regional dialects and scribal interpretations.

Notable individuals with the surname FEENER include Johann FEENER (1624-1688), a renowned clockmaker from Augsburg, whose intricate mechanical clocks were highly sought after by European nobility. Another prominent figure was Wilhelm FEENER (1768-1845), a philosopher and educator who taught at the University of Jena and authored several influential works on ethics and moral philosophy.

In the 19th century, some members of the FEENER family immigrated to the United States, carrying the name across the Atlantic. One such individual was Carl FEENER (1832-1901), a German-born engineer who played a crucial role in the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City.

Other notable individuals with the FEENER surname include Elise FEENER (1890-1972), a pioneering American journalist and women's rights activist, and Hans FEENER (1914-1998), a renowned German architect renowned for his modernist designs in the post-war era.

Throughout its history, the surname FEENER has maintained a strong association with skilled craftsmanship, particularly in fields related to metalworking, engineering, and construction. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over time, its connection to the ancient occupation of "fire tender" remains a significant part of its heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Feener

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

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

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

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