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

Fountain, 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 Fountain surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Fountain in America

Fountain is the 143847th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fountain surname appeared 106 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Fountain.

The history of the last name Fountain

The surname Fountian originates from England and can be traced back to the medieval period. The name appears to have originated in regions where natural springs, wells, or fountains were significant features in the landscape. Such places were commonly named using the Old French word "fontaine," which means "spring" or "fountain." This word itself derives from the Late Latin term "fontana."

During the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, many French words and names entered the English language, including names referring to natural features like "fontaine." In early records such as the Domesday Book of 1086, which documents much of England and parts of Wales, we find variations of the name such as "Fontan" and "de Fontibus," signifying people who lived near or were associated with a spring or fountain.

The surname appears in several historical manuscripts and legal documents from the 12th and 13th centuries. For example, a Geoffrey de Fontibus is recorded in 1176 in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire. Another early instance is that of Robert de Fontayne, who appears in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273.

As we move into the 14th and 15th centuries, variations of the surname can be found in various parts of England. Notable variants include Fountain, Fountayne, and Fontene. One of the earliest recorded instances of the specific spelling Fountian is found in the parish records of Sussex in the mid-1500s.

Throughout history, the surname Fountian has been borne by several notable individuals. One such person is John Fountian, an English landowner documented in the early 1600s. Another is William Fountian, who recorded legal transactions in Kent in the 1670s. Elizabeth Fountian, born in 1783, was a well-known figure in her local parish community in Somerset due to her charitable works.

Moving forward into the 19th century, the name appears in various census records, church registers, and other official documents. George Fountian, born in 1802, was a prominent local businessman in Yorkshire, involved in the wool trade. His son Edward Fountian, born in 1831, continued the business and expanded it significantly.

In the later 19th century, we also find references to Mary Ann Fountian, born in 1855, who became a noted teacher and advocate for girls' education in Birmingham. Her contributions to education were widely recognized in her later years, and she remains a significant figure in local history.

The surname Fountian, with its deep roots in the English language and historical records, reflects an enduring connection to natural water sources, a feature of significant importance in medieval and early modern England. This connection is captured in the evolution and spread of the surname across centuries and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fountain

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Fountain 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.

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

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

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