Fetty last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Fetty

Derived from the Old English word "fætt," meaning a large cask or barrel, likely referring to a cooper or barrel maker.

Fetty, 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 Fetty surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fetty in America

Fetty is the 14612th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fetty surname appeared 2,037 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 Fetty.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fetty 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 14612 15117 -3.40%
Count 2,037 1,790 12.91%
Proportion per 100k 0.69 0.66 4.44%

The history of the last name Fetty

The surname Fetty is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval period, specifically the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "fett," which means "fat" or "plump." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a nickname for a person of larger stature or build.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Fetty can be found in various historical documents and records from the 13th and 14th centuries. One such reference appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, dated 1327, where a person named John Fetty is mentioned. Another early record is found in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire from 1344, which lists a William Fetty.

During the medieval period, the name Fetty was primarily concentrated in the counties of Worcestershire, Staffordshire, and Warwickshire in the West Midlands region of England. However, it is important to note that due to the widespread migration of people during that time, the name could also be found in other parts of the country.

One notable figure with the surname Fetty was Sir Thomas Fetty, a prominent landowner and member of the gentry class who lived in the 16th century. He was born in Warwickshire in 1520 and was known for his involvement in local politics and his service as a Justice of the Peace.

Another individual of historical significance was Robert Fetty, a scholar and clergyman born in Worcestershire in 1586. He attended Oxford University and later became a rector in the Church of England, serving in various parishes throughout his career.

In the 17th century, a man named John Fetty gained recognition as a skilled carpenter and woodworker. He was born in Staffordshire in 1622 and is credited with contributing to the construction of several notable buildings in the region, including churches and manor houses.

Moving forward to the 18th century, there was a wealthy merchant named William Fetty who was born in Worcestershire in 1715. He made his fortune through international trade and was known for his philanthropic efforts, establishing several charitable foundations in his hometown.

Lastly, in the 19th century, a notable figure with the surname Fetty was Elizabeth Fetty, born in Warwickshire in 1825. She was a pioneering educator who founded one of the first schools for girls in her local area, providing educational opportunities for young women at a time when it was relatively uncommon.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fetty

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

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 Fetty was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 93.47% 1,904
Non-Hispanic Black Only 2.70% 55
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.64% 13
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.59% 12
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.23% 25
Hispanic Origin 1.37% 28

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 Fetty has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 93.47% 96.15% -2.83%
Black 2.70% 0.39% 149.51%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.64% 0.56% 13.33%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.59% 0.34% 53.76%
Two or More Races 1.23% 1.23% 0.00%
Hispanic 1.37% 1.34% 2.21%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

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

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

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

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