UK surname
Of French origin, a locational surname denoting someone from a specific place or town.
In the 1881 census there were 53 people recorded with the Fanton surname, ranking it #26,134 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 44, ranked #35,224, down from #26,134 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Stockport and Bristol City: St Michael. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fanton is 246 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 17.0%.
1881 census count
53
Ranked #26,134
Modern count
44
2016, ranked #35,224
Peak year
1861
246 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Fanton surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Fanton surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 83 | #19,181 |
| 1861 | historical | 246 | #10,010 |
| 1881 | historical | 53 | #26,134 |
| 1891 | historical | 131 | #20,073 |
| 1901 | historical | 90 | #24,021 |
| 1911 | historical | 89 | #23,922 |
| 1997 | modern | 41 | #33,552 |
| 1998 | modern | 40 | #33,856 |
| 1999 | modern | 42 | #33,778 |
| 2000 | modern | 40 | #33,976 |
| 2001 | modern | 40 | #33,842 |
| 2002 | modern | 44 | #33,790 |
| 2003 | modern | 40 | #34,215 |
| 2004 | modern | 40 | #34,387 |
| 2005 | modern | 34 | #35,056 |
| 2006 | modern | 33 | #35,329 |
| 2007 | modern | 35 | #35,347 |
| 2008 | modern | 37 | #35,327 |
| 2009 | modern | 36 | #35,496 |
| 2010 | modern | 38 | #35,514 |
| 2011 | modern | 43 | #35,228 |
| 2012 | modern | 44 | #35,164 |
| 2013 | modern | 44 | #35,222 |
| 2014 | modern | 43 | #35,293 |
| 2015 | modern | 40 | #35,422 |
| 2016 | modern | 44 | #35,224 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Stockport, Bristol City: St Michael, Chesterfield and Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 2 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 3 | Bristol City: St Michael | Gloucestershire |
| 4 | Chesterfield | Derbyshire |
| 5 | Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) | Staffordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Fanton surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fanton, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Fanton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Fanton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Fanton is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fanton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Fanton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname FANTON has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "fenn" meaning fen or marsh, and "tun" meaning a farm or settlement. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a marshy area or fen.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the FANTON surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like record compiled in 1273. This document mentions a Robert de Fenton, whose name is thought to be an early variant spelling of FANTON.
In the 14th century, the surname appears in various forms in historical records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which list a John de Fenton, and the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield from 1379, which mention a Thomas de Fenton.
The FANTON surname is also linked to several place names in England, such as Fenton in Staffordshire, Fenton in Yorkshire, and Fenton Culvert in Warwickshire. These place names likely originated from the Old English words "fenn" and "tun," further reinforcing the connection between the surname and its geographical roots.
Notable individuals throughout history who bore the FANTON surname include:
1. Sir Geoffrey Fenton (c. 1539 - 1608), an English writer and scholar who served as the Principal Secretary of State in Ireland during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
2. Edward Fenton (c. 1550 - 1603), an English navigator and explorer who led an expedition to the Pacific Ocean and the South Atlantic in the late 16th century.
3. Elijah Fenton (1683 - 1730), an English poet and critic best known for his work "The Fair Pupil" and his contributions to the popular translation of the works of Homer.
4. Lavinia Fenton (1708 - 1760), an English actress and playwright who gained fame for her performances in various plays and her marriage to the Duke of Bolton.
5. Roger Fenton (1819 - 1869), a pioneering English photographer who is considered one of the first war photographers, capturing images during the Crimean War in the 1850s.
While the FANTON surname may have evolved over time and taken on various spellings, its roots can be traced back to the Old English language and the geographic regions of England where it originated, reflecting the historical significance and enduring legacy of this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fanton surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Warwickshire leads with 10 Fantons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.39x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Warwickshire | 10 | 7.39x |
| Cornwall | 8 | 13.18x |
| Surrey | 7 | 2.68x |
| Gloucestershire | 6 | 5.70x |
| Cheshire | 4 | 3.38x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 2.73x |
| Leicestershire | 3 | 5.04x |
| Channel Islands | 2 | 12.59x |
| Kent | 2 | 1.09x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.31x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 1.10x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.38x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 3.60x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.90x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.19x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 1.43x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 9 Fantons recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.16x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Aston | 9 | 24.16x |
| Antony | 8 | 1355.93x |
| Bristol St Michael | 6 | 666.67x |
| Epsom | 4 | 314.96x |
| Stockport | 4 | 65.68x |
| Lutterworth | 3 | 833.33x |
| Newington | 3 | 15.14x |
| Portsea | 3 | 13.92x |
| Harborne | 2 | 34.48x |
| Liverpool | 2 | 5.17x |
| St Helier | 2 | 38.68x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 2.22x |
| Hougham | 1 | 91.74x |
| Huddersfield | 1 | 12.92x |
| Little Torrington | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Lyminge | 1 | 625.00x |
| Salford | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Sheffield | 1 | 5.91x |
| Westminster St John | 1 | 15.31x |
| Yardley | 1 | 55.87x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Fanton surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Fanton surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Fanton households.
FAQ
In 1881, 53 people were recorded with the Fanton surname. That placed it at #26,134 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 44 in 2016. That gives Fanton a modern rank of #35,224.
Of French origin, a locational surname denoting someone from a specific place or town.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fanton bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.