History of your Surname
Get access to Fenning family records.Start a free trial

Fenning Family History

Fenning Name Meaning

English: topographic name from Middle English fen(ne) ‘fen marsh’ (Old English fenn) + -ing for someone who lived by a fen or marsh. Compare Fenn .

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Venning, Penning, Kenning, Denning, Henning, Ferring, Canning

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Fenning family from?

You can see how Fenning families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Fenning family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Fenning families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 134 Fenning families living in London. This was about 35% of all the recorded Fenning's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Fenning families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Fenning surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Fenning ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Farmer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Fenning. 43% of Fenning men worked as a Farmer and 80% of Fenning women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Fenning were General Labourer and Household Duties. .

View Census Data for Fenning | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Farmer
    43%
  • Retired
    29%
  • General Labourer
    29%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    80%
  • Domestic Servant
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Household Duties
    4%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Fenning family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 9,000 census records available for the last name Fenning. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Fenning census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Fenning

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Fenning. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Fenning immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 991 military records available for the last name Fenning. For the veterans among your Fenning ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Fenning military records

You've only scratched the surface of Fenning family history

Discover More

What is the average Fenning lifespan?

Between 1951 and 2004, in the United States, Fenning life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1951, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Fenning in 1951 was 47, and 90 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Fenning

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Fenning family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Fenning last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial