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Fenner Family History

Fenner Surname Meaning

English: from Middle English fen(ne) ‘fen marsh’ (Old English fenn) + -er a topographic name for someone who lived in or by a marsh or fen. Fenn Place in Worth in Sussex had owners called atte Fenne who in the time of King Henry VI (1421–1471) apparently changed their name to Fenner. See Fenn.

English: variant of Fainer from Middle English feiner fener ‘haymonger one who sells hay’ (Old French fenier) or perhaps a nickname from Middle English feiner ‘inventor; hypocrite’.

South German and Swiss German: occupational name for an ensign or standard bearer from Middle High German vener an agent derivative of Middle High German vane ‘flag’.

See also Fenrich.

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


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Where is the Fenner family from?

You can see how Fenner families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Fenner family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Fenner families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 368 Fenner families living in London. This was about 26% of all the recorded Fenner's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Fenner families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Fenner surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Fenner ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Incapacitated and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Fenner. 7% of Fenner men worked as an Incapacitated and 68% of Fenner women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Fenner were Builders Labourer and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Fenner | 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

  • Incapacitated
    7%
  • General Labourer
    7%
  • Gardener
    6%
  • Builders Labourer
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    68%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Domestic Duties
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%

What Fenner family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 73,000 census records available for the last name Fenner. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Fenner census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Fenner

Passenger Lists

There are 6,000 immigration records available for the last name Fenner. 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 Fenner immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 10,000 military records available for the last name Fenner. For the veterans among your Fenner ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Fenner military records

You've only scratched the surface of Fenner family history

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What is the average Fenner lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Fenner life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1945, and highest in 1967. The average life expectancy for Fenner in 1942 was 37, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Fenner

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Fenner ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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