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

Fern, 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 Fern surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fern in America

Fern is the 12491st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fern surname appeared 2,482 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Fern.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fern 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 Fern

The surname Fern originates from England and dates back to the late 12th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the Old English word 'fearn', meaning fern plant or bracken. The name likely referred to someone who lived near an area abundant in ferns or bracken, or a homestead distinguished by the presence of these plants.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1199, where it appears as 'Hugo de Ferne'. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also mention 'John de la Ferne' in Oxfordshire. These early records suggest the name was initially spelled with variations such as 'Ferne' and 'de la Ferne', reflecting its locational origin.

The Fern surname is also associated with certain place names in England. For instance, Fernhill in Berkshire and Fernham in Oxfordshire may have contributed to the development of the name. Additionally, the surname may have derived from the Old English word 'fearnig', meaning a fern-covered place or a fertile, well-watered area.

Notable historical figures with the surname Fern include William Fern (c. 1600-1658), an English Puritan clergyman and ejected minister during the English Civil War. Another prominent bearer of the name was Sir John Fern (1572-1645), an English judge and Chief Justice of the King's Bench during the reign of King Charles I.

Other individuals of note include Anne Fern (1564-1626), an English botanist and one of the earliest female writers on plants, and Thomas Fern (1711-1789), an English engraver and painter known for his landscapes and portraits.

The Fern surname also has historical connections beyond England. In Scotland, the name appears as 'Fernie' or 'Fairnie', possibly derived from the Scottish Gaelic word 'rathair', meaning a fern or bracken. The earliest recorded instance of this variation is 'Gilbertus Fernie' in the Ragman Rolls of 1296.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fern

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

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

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

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