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

Fenn, 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 Fenn surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fenn in America

Fenn is the 6548th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fenn surname appeared 5,172 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Fenn.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fenn 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 Fenn

The surname Fenn is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "fenn," which means "marsh" or "fen." This name was likely adopted by individuals who lived near or worked in marshy areas.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Fenn can be traced back to the late 12th century in various English counties, including Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex, where marshlands were prevalent. The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Fenn, but it does mention several place names with the element "fenn," indicating the existence of marshlands in those areas.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William de Fenne, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1195. Another early record is that of Robert de la Fenne, mentioned in the Curia Regis Rolls of Hertfordshire in 1221.

Over the centuries, the surname Fenn has been spelled in various ways, including Fenn, Fenne, Fenne, Fen, and Fenn. Some notable individuals with the surname Fenn include Sir John Fenn (1739-1794), an English antiquarian and editor; Elijah Fenton (1683-1730), an English poet and translator; and Robert Fenn (1768-1847), an English artist and engraver.

Other historically significant figures with the surname Fenn include John Fenn (1590-1670), an English clergyman and author; Richard Fenn (1805-1887), an English painter and engraver; and James Fenn (1749-1825), an English artist and illustrator.

It is worth noting that the surname Fenn has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Fennor in Bedfordshire, Fenny Compton in Warwickshire, and Fenwick in Northumberland, further reinforcing its connection to marshy or fen-like areas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fenn

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

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

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

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