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

Fonner, 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 Fonner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fonner in America

Fonner is the 26422nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fonner surname appeared 924 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 Fonner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fonner 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 Fonner

The surname Fonner has its origins in Germany, dating back to the early 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word "fuonāri," which translates to "leader" or "guide." This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname, given to individuals who worked as guides or leaders in their communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fonner can be found in the town of Rottenburg, located in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. The Fonner family was mentioned in local records dating back to the late 1500s, where they were listed as landowners and respected members of the community.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Fonner name began to spread across other regions of Germany, with families settling in areas such as Bavaria and Saxony. Some notable individuals bearing the Fonner surname during this period include Johann Fonner (1621-1689), a renowned Lutheran theologian and author, and Katharina Fonner (1674-1742), a highly regarded midwife in the city of Nuremberg.

As the Fonner family continued to grow and establish themselves in various parts of Germany, some members began to explore new opportunities abroad. In the mid-19th century, several Fonner families immigrated to the United States, settling in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois. One of the earliest recorded Fonners in America was Wilhelm Fonner (1825-1902), who arrived in Philadelphia in 1848 and later became a successful businessman.

Another notable figure with the Fonner surname was Carl Fonner (1879-1961), a German-American architect who was responsible for designing several iconic buildings in New York City, including the American Museum of Natural History and the Rockefeller Center complex.

Over the centuries, the Fonner name has also been associated with various place names and older spellings. For example, the town of Fonnerau in Bavaria was once known as "Fuonarowe," which likely derived from a combination of the surname Fonner and the German word "au," meaning "meadow" or "pasture."

While the Fonner surname may not be as widely recognizable as some other German names, its rich history and enduring presence across multiple countries and generations make it a fascinating and significant part of the broader tapestry of surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fonner

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

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

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

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