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

Fones, 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 Fones surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fones in America

Fones is the 32524th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fones surname appeared 707 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 Fones.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fones 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 Fones

The surname FONES has its origins in medieval England, tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "fon," meaning "to take or receive." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a person's occupation or role, possibly a tax collector or someone tasked with receiving payments or tributes.

In the early records of the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, there is a mention of a person named Robert Fone, indicating the presence of this surname during that time period. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 list a John Fone, further solidifying the existence of this surname in medieval England.

One of the earliest known bearers of the FONES surname was William Fones, a prominent merchant and landowner who lived in Suffolk during the 15th century. He is recorded in various land transactions and legal documents from the mid-1400s, showcasing the surname's presence among the gentry and upper classes of the time.

The FONES surname has also been linked to certain place names, such as the village of Fownhope in Herefordshire. This connection suggests that some bearers of the name may have originated from or held ties to this particular location, further cementing the surname's English roots.

Notable individuals with the FONES surname throughout history include:

1. Richard Fones (c. 1560 - 1628), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Chancellor of Lichfield Cathedral in the early 17th century.

2. Edward Fones (1614 - 1680), a Puritan settler and one of the founders of the town of Windsor, Connecticut, in the American colonies.

3. Nathaniel Fones (1653 - 1710), an English merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the development of the city of Bristol.

4. Mary Fones (1737 - 1819), a British author and poet who published several acclaimed works during the late 18th century.

5. John Fones (1802 - 1874), a prominent architect who designed numerous notable buildings in London, including the former British Museum Reading Room.

While the FONES surname has endured through the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the medieval English landscape, reflecting the rich tapestry of history woven into the fabric of family names.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fones

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

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!