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

Fetters, 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 Fetters surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fetters in America

Fetters is the 7446th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fetters surname appeared 4,473 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 Fetters.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fetters 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 Fetters

The surname Fetters is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "fet(t)ere," which means "fetter" or "chain." The name likely originated in the 12th or 13th century, referring to an individual who worked as a maker or seller of fetters, which were shackles or chains used to restrain prisoners or slaves.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Fetters can be found in various medieval records and documents from England. One notable example is the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mention a "Willelmus le Fettere." This suggests that the name was already in use by the early 14th century.

In the 15th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as "Fettour," "Fettyr," and "Fetter," reflecting the evolving spelling and pronunciation over time. One notable individual from this period was John Fetters, a wealthy merchant from London, who lived around 1450.

By the 16th century, the surname had solidified into its modern spelling, "Fetters." Records from this era include a baptismal entry for "Marye Fetters" in the parish records of St. Dunstan's, Stepney, London, in 1586.

In the 17th century, the surname Fetters continued to be found throughout England, particularly in the counties of Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. One notable individual from this period was William Fetters (1615-1690), a Puritan clergyman and author from Warwickshire.

The 18th century saw the surname spread further across England and into other parts of the British Isles. One notable figure was Sir John Fetters (1725-1802), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for the borough of Bridgwater in Somerset.

In the 19th century, the surname Fetters began to appear in various parts of the world as English emigrants and settlers carried the name with them. One notable individual from this era was James Fetters (1808-1891), an American businessman and politician who served as the 11th Lieutenant Governor of Indiana.

Throughout its history, the surname Fetters has been associated with various occupations, from craftsmen and merchants to clergymen, landowners, and political figures. While not a particularly common surname, it has maintained a presence in various parts of the world, reflecting the rich and diverse history of this English surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fetters

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

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

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

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