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

Fothergill, 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 Fothergill surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fothergill in America

Fothergill is the 29661st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fothergill surname appeared 794 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 Fothergill.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fothergill 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 Fothergill

The surname Fothergill is of English origin, having its roots in the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "fothr" or "fother," meaning a load or burden, and "gill," referring to a narrow valley or ravine. Thus, the name likely originated as a topographic surname, describing someone who lived near a ravine or narrow valley where goods were transported or carried.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Records of 1379, where a William Fothergill is mentioned. The name also appears in the Lancashire Wills and Inventories from the 16th century, suggesting its presence in that region as well.

A notable early bearer of the name was Richard Fothergill (1588-1623), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the principal of St. Edmund Hall, Oxford. Another significant figure was John Fothergill (1676-1744), a renowned Quaker minister and writer from Wensleydale, Yorkshire.

The Fothergill name gained further prominence with the life of John Fothergill (1712-1780), a pioneering English physician and botanist. He was a member of the Royal Society and made significant contributions to the study of plant life and medicine. His nephew, Samuel Fothergill (1715-1772), was also a prominent Quaker minister and abolitionist who advocated for the abolition of slavery.

In the 19th century, one of the most notable individuals with the Fothergill surname was Jesse Fothergill (1835-1915), an English businessman and philanthropist. He established the Fothergill Trust, which aimed to provide affordable housing for workers in Yorkshire.

Other historical figures bearing the name include William Fothergill (1809-1868), an English civil engineer who worked on railroad projects in South America, and Thomas Fothergill (1808-1886), an English businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Kendal.

The Fothergill name has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Fothergill Beck in Yorkshire and Fothergill Farm in Lancashire, further highlighting its connection to the region's geography and topography.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fothergill

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

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

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

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