NameCensus.

UK surname

Fenner

An English occupational surname for a hunter or a seller of venison.

In the 1881 census there were 1,267 people recorded with the Fenner surname, ranking it #3,216 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,624, ranked #3,831, down from #3,216 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough and Rotherfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Braintree, Torbay and Tendring.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fenner is 1,877 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.2%.

1881 census count

1,267

Ranked #3,216

Modern count

1,624

2016, ranked #3,831

Peak year

1911

1,877 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fenner had 1,267 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,216 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,624 in 2016, ranked #3,831.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,877 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Fenner surname distribution map

The map shows where the Fenner surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Fenner surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fenner over time

The 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 681 #3,816
1861 historical 676 #3,973
1881 historical 1,267 #3,216
1891 historical 1,435 #3,053
1901 historical 1,744 #2,974
1911 historical 1,877 #2,635
1997 modern 1,711 #3,483
1998 modern 1,766 #3,510
1999 modern 1,757 #3,556
2000 modern 1,766 #3,527
2001 modern 1,727 #3,526
2002 modern 1,782 #3,493
2003 modern 1,708 #3,566
2004 modern 1,707 #3,576
2005 modern 1,677 #3,583
2006 modern 1,663 #3,613
2007 modern 1,644 #3,685
2008 modern 1,632 #3,734
2009 modern 1,693 #3,688
2010 modern 1,697 #3,767
2011 modern 1,691 #3,723
2012 modern 1,710 #3,628
2013 modern 1,719 #3,668
2014 modern 1,705 #3,708
2015 modern 1,667 #3,757
2016 modern 1,624 #3,831

Geography

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Where Fenners are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough, Rotherfield and Great and Little Totham, Goldhanger, Heybridge, Tolleshunt Major, Tolleshunt Knights, Tolleshunt Dar. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Braintree, Torbay, Tendring and Winchester. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
3 London parishes London 3
4 Rotherfield Sussex
5 Great and Little Totham, Goldhanger, Heybridge, Tolleshunt Major, Tolleshunt Knights, Tolleshunt Dar Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Braintree 004 Braintree
2 Torbay 003 Torbay
3 Tendring 004 Tendring
4 Braintree 001 Braintree
5 Winchester 003 Winchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fenner

These lists show first names that appear often with the Fenner surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fenner

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fenner, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Fenner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Fenner household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Fenner is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fenner is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fenner falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fenner is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Fenner, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Fenner

The surname Fenner has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have been derived from the Old English word "fenn," meaning a marsh or fen. This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive nickname for someone who lived near a marshy area or worked in such an environment.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273 and the Subsidy Rolls of 1327. These records mention individuals like Robert le Fenner and William Fenner, indicating the presence of the name in different parts of England during that time.

One notable example of the Fenner name's historical significance is its inclusion in the renowned Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of lands and landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The Domesday Book lists a Fenner family residing in Oxfordshire, providing evidence of the name's longevity in the region.

Over the centuries, the Fenner surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Vennor, Vener, and Vennour. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the inconsistencies in record-keeping practices during earlier times.

Several notable individuals have borne the Fenner surname throughout history. One prominent figure was Sir Edward Fenner (1584-1657), an English lawyer and judge who served as a Baron of the Exchequer during the reign of King Charles I. Another was Thomas Fenner (1600-1676), a colonial American who served as the Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.

Other influential individuals with the Fenner surname include William Fenner (1600-1640), an English Puritan minister and author, and Arthur Fenner (1745-1805), an American politician and lawyer who served as the seventh Governor of Rhode Island. Additionally, Edward Fenner (1782-1853) was a prominent English naturalist and physician who made significant contributions to the field of natural history.

The Fenner surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Fenner's Chase in Buckinghamshire and Fenner's Green in Hampshire. These place names likely originated from individuals with the Fenner surname who held land or resided in those areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fenner families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fenner surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 197 Fenners recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.59x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 197 1.59x
Sussex 193 9.23x
Essex 180 7.35x
Kent 167 3.95x
Surrey 151 2.50x
Gloucestershire 58 2.39x
Suffolk 57 3.77x
Lancashire 33 0.22x
Berkshire 31 3.33x
Somerset 27 1.35x
Buckinghamshire 20 2.67x
Lanarkshire 20 0.50x
Warwickshire 18 0.58x
Hampshire 16 0.63x
Yorkshire 13 0.11x
Durham 12 0.33x
Devon 10 0.39x
Cambridgeshire 9 1.15x
Staffordshire 9 0.22x
Dorset 7 0.86x
Northumberland 7 0.38x
Cheshire 6 0.22x
Lincolnshire 5 0.25x
Derbyshire 4 0.21x
Hertfordshire 4 0.47x
Norfolk 4 0.21x
Oxfordshire 4 0.52x
Herefordshire 3 0.59x
Channel Islands 2 0.54x
Wiltshire 2 0.18x
Cornwall 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 0.68x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rotherfield in Sussex leads with 47 Fenners recorded in 1881 and an index of 255.30x.

Place Total Index
Rotherfield 47 255.30x
Mayfield 44 355.99x
Camberwell 36 4.55x
Tolleshunt D Arcy 30 862.07x
Tonbridge 27 17.70x
Harwich St Nicholas 25 132.28x
Hornsey 25 15.94x
Ardleigh 24 353.46x
Lambeth 24 2.22x
Westbury On Severn East 19 34.56x
Chelsea London 18 4.82x
Epping 17 171.03x
Hackney London 17 2.45x
Newington 17 3.71x
Greenwich 15 7.60x
Birmingham 14 1.34x
Brighton 14 3.32x
Dedham 14 188.68x
Lewisham 14 6.21x
Bermondsey 12 3.25x
Bury St Edmunds St James 12 29.75x
Pebmarsh 12 545.45x
Edmonton 11 11.01x
Govan 11 1.11x
Hove 11 11.99x
Hylton 11 169.23x
Paddington London 11 2.41x
St Pancras London 11 1.10x
Awre 10 199.60x
Northfleet 10 26.83x
St Lawrence 10 34.39x
Sunninghill 10 77.46x
Barony 9 0.89x
Battersea 9 1.97x
Bristol St James In 9 25.17x
East Budleigh 9 74.01x
Hammersmith London 9 2.95x
Ipswich St Clement 9 23.44x
Reigate Borough 9 64.61x
Sevenoaks 9 26.24x
West Tarring 9 289.39x
Beddingham 8 421.05x
Bridgewater 8 14.77x
Clerkenwell London 8 2.73x
Dartford 8 18.50x
Faversham 8 19.83x
Kirkdale 8 3.23x
Manchester 8 1.21x
Pendleton In Salford 8 4.56x
Shadwell London 8 23.06x
Southwark St John 8 21.10x
Wandsworth 8 6.70x
Canford Magna 7 148.94x
Henbury 7 58.97x
Marks Tey 7 402.30x
Newhaven 7 41.23x
Reading St Giles 7 7.67x
Seal 7 102.49x
Westgate 7 6.13x
Bow London 6 3.80x
Bromborough 6 105.63x
Chalfont St Giles 6 111.73x
Eynsford 6 82.76x
Frant 6 40.51x
Great Marlow 6 29.66x
Limehouse London 6 4.41x
Mile End Old Town London 6 2.27x
St George In East London 6 5.14x
St Marylebone London 6 0.91x
Upper Beeding 6 231.66x
Walthamstow 6 6.81x
West Stow 6 750.00x
Westhorpe 6 666.67x
Westminster St John 6 3.97x
Bath St Peter St Paul 5 56.69x
Clare 5 69.16x
Coton 5 362.32x
Kensington London 5 0.73x
Poplar London 5 2.14x
St George Hanover Square 5 2.29x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Fenner surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 72
Elizabeth 44
Sarah 33
Eliza 31
Alice 26
Emily 25
Emma 23
Annie 20
Ellen 20
Ann 17
Caroline 17
Jane 16
Edith 13
Harriet 11
Kate 9
Catherine 8
Fanny 7
Florence 7
Frances 7
Harriett 7
Margaret 7
Ada 6
Esther 6
Minnie 6
Ruth 6
Louisa 5
Lydia 5
Maria 5
Rebecca 5
Rose 5
Susan 5
Amelia 4
Gertrude 4
Hannah 4
Louise 4
Martha 4
May 4
Sophia 4
Anna 3
Elizth. 3
Jessie 3
Julia 3
Lucy 3
Mabel 3
Matilda 3
Phoebe 3
Rosa 3
Amy 2
Clara 2
Cordelia 2

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Fenner surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

FAQ

Fenner surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fenner surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,267 people were recorded with the Fenner surname. That placed it at #3,216 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fenner surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,624 in 2016. That gives Fenner a modern rank of #3,831.

What does the Fenner surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a hunter or a seller of venison.

What does the Fenner map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fenner bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.