Fetherson last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Fetherson

An occupational surname referring to one who worked with feathers or down.

Fetherson, 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 Fetherson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fetherson in America

Fetherson is the 159712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fetherson surname appeared 101 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 Fetherson.

The history of the last name Fetherson

The surname Fetherson originated in Scotland during the late medieval period, deriving from the Old English words "feather" and "son," likely denoting an ancestor's profession or physical characteristic. It is believed to have emerged in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly the region of Roxburghshire, where some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found.

One of the earliest known references to the Fetherson surname appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical record of Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The entry "Willelmus Fetherson" suggests that the name was already established in Scotland by the late 13th century.

In the 15th century, a notable bearer of the Fetherson name was John Fetherson, a respected merchant and landowner in the town of Jedburgh, located in the Scottish Borders region. Records from the 1460s mention John Fetherson's involvement in local trade and his acquisition of several properties within the town.

During the 16th century, the Fetherson family continued to maintain a presence in the Scottish Borders region, with several members holding positions of influence in local communities. One such individual was Robert Fetherson, born in 1532, who served as a magistrate in the town of Hawick and was known for his contributions to the local judiciary.

As the Fetherson surname spread across Scotland, variations in spelling emerged, including Fethersone, Fethirson, and Featherston. In the 17th century, a notable figure bearing the Featherston variation was Sir John Featherston (1616-1688), a Scottish military officer who fought in the English Civil War and later held the position of Governor of Tangier in Morocco.

By the 18th century, the Fetherson surname had also established a presence in other parts of the British Isles, including England and Ireland. One notable bearer was William Fetherson (1738-1817), an Irish writer and philosopher who published several works on ethics and moral philosophy.

Throughout its history, the Fetherson surname has been associated with various professions and social standings, from merchants and landowners to military personnel and scholars. While the name's origins can be traced back to Scotland, its bearers have left their mark across various regions and fields, contributing to the rich tapestry of cultural and historical narratives.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fetherson

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

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 Fetherson was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 15.84% 16
Non-Hispanic Black Only 75.25% 76
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 4.95% 5

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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