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Fanning Family History

Fanning Surname Meaning

English: variant of Fenning. Irish: from Ó Fionnáin ‘descendant of Fionnán a diminutive of Finn (see Fannin).

It is also a variant of the name of a Norman family in Munster otherwise called Panin (a diminutive of Pagan) Gaelicized as Fainín.

The family was located at Fanningstown formerly Ballyfanning Limerick.

Compare Fagan.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Fanning family from?

You can see how Fanning families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Fanning family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Fanning families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 141 Fanning families living in Lancashire. This was about 36% of all the recorded Fanning's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Fanning families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Fanning 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 Fanning ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Fanning. 19% of Fanning men worked as a General Labourer and 73% of Fanning women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Fanning were Goods Porter (railway) and Unpaid Domestic Duti.

View Census Data for Fanning | 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

  • General Labourer
    19%
  • Farmer
    13%
  • Incapacitated
    7%
  • Goods Porter (railway)
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    73%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%
  • Private Means
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic Duti
    4%

What Fanning family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 86,000 census records available for the last name Fanning. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Fanning census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Fanning

Passenger Lists

There are 10,000 immigration records available for the last name Fanning. 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 Fanning immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 19,000 military records available for the last name Fanning. For the veterans among your Fanning ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Fanning military records

You've only scratched the surface of Fanning family history

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What is the average Fanning lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Fanning life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Fanning in 1942 was 27, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Fanning

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Fanning 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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