NameCensus.

UK surname

Fennessy

The Gaelic surname referring to a person from Fennessy, Offaly.

In the 1881 census there were 36 people recorded with the Fennessy surname, ranking it #28,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 319, ranked #14,121, up from #28,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Enfield, Bassetlaw and Pendle.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fennessy is 325 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 786.1%.

1881 census count

36

Ranked #28,559

Modern count

319

2016, ranked #14,121

Peak year

2015

325 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fennessy had 36 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 319 in 2016, ranked #14,121.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 62 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Fennessy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fennessy surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fennessy 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 11 #31,309
1861 historical 19 #31,470
1881 historical 36 #28,559
1891 historical 31 #31,820
1901 historical 53 #28,271
1911 historical 62 #26,622
1997 modern 290 #13,832
1998 modern 277 #14,646
1999 modern 282 #14,545
2000 modern 280 #14,601
2001 modern 278 #14,444
2002 modern 270 #15,010
2003 modern 268 #14,897
2004 modern 268 #14,995
2005 modern 266 #15,007
2006 modern 278 #14,623
2007 modern 278 #14,773
2008 modern 287 #14,580
2009 modern 311 #14,069
2010 modern 314 #14,258
2011 modern 296 #14,729
2012 modern 301 #14,476
2013 modern 313 #14,299
2014 modern 324 #14,058
2015 modern 325 #13,927
2016 modern 319 #14,121

Geography

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Where Fennessys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Enfield, Bassetlaw, Pendle and St Albans. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Enfield 028 Enfield
2 Bassetlaw 010 Bassetlaw
3 Pendle 005 Pendle
4 St Albans 012 St Albans
5 Pendle 007 Pendle

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fennessy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fennessy

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Fennessy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Fennessy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Fennessy is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Fennessy is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fennessy falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fennessy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Fennessy

The surname Fennessy originated in Ireland, deriving from the Gaelic name O'Fínnachta, which means "descendant of Fionnachta." Fionnachta was a personal name composed of the Gaelic elements "fionn," meaning fair or white, and "acht," meaning active or vigorous. The name initially emerged in County Cork during the Middle Ages.

Over time, the name evolved through various spellings, including O'Fennessie, Fennessie, Fennesy, and Fennessy. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, where the surname appears as "O'Finnachta" in entries dating back to the 12th century.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the Fennessy surname was Dermot O'Fennessie, a 16th-century Irish chieftain from County Cork. He is mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters, a renowned historical chronicle compiled in the early 17th century.

In the 17th century, the Fennessy surname began to appear in records from County Limerick, suggesting that members of the family had established themselves in that region. One of the earliest recorded individuals from this area was John Fennesy, who was born around 1650 in Limerick.

During the 18th century, the name Fennessy gained recognition with the birth of John Fennessy (1719-1790), an Irish Catholic priest and educator who founded several schools in County Cork. He played a crucial role in promoting education during a time when it was heavily restricted for Catholics in Ireland.

Another notable individual with this surname was Michael Fennessy (1822-1901), an Irish-born Australian politician and businessman. He served as a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly and was involved in various business ventures in the state of Victoria.

In the 19th century, the Fennessy surname also gained prominence in the United States, with individuals such as Patrick Fennessy (1832-1908), an Irish-American politician and businessman who served as the mayor of Memphis, Tennessee, from 1887 to 1889.

Throughout history, the Fennessy surname has been associated with various place names in Ireland, including Fennessycourt and Fennessy's Cross, both located in County Cork. These place names likely originated from prominent Fennessy families who resided in those areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fennessy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fennessy 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 15 Fennessys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.27x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 15 4.27x
Surrey 7 4.09x
Lancashire 5 1.20x
Monmouthshire 4 15.75x
Gloucestershire 2 2.90x
Cheshire 1 1.29x
Midlothian 1 2.13x
Sussex 1 1.69x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kensington London in Middlesex leads with 7 Fennessys recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.86x.

Place Total Index
Kensington London 7 35.86x
Lambeth 7 22.86x
Liverpool 5 19.76x
Acton 4 194.17x
Bedwellty 4 89.29x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 30.86x
Paddington London 2 15.49x
Broadwater 1 73.53x
Hackney London 1 5.08x
Penicuik 1 156.25x
St Faith Under St Pauls 1 3333.33x
Tranmere 1 35.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ellen 3
Bridget 2
Mary 2
Alice 1
Catherine 1
Elizabeth 1
Fanny 1
Isabel 1
Johanna 1
Kate 1
Margt. 1
Martha 1
Maude 1
Norah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Michael 2
Richard 2
William 2
Charles 1
Fk.Wm. 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Henry 1
James 1
John 1
Joseph 1
Rodney 1
Timothy 1

Top occupations

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 Fennessy households.

FAQ

Fennessy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fennessy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 36 people were recorded with the Fennessy surname. That placed it at #28,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fennessy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 319 in 2016. That gives Fennessy a modern rank of #14,121.

What does the Fennessy surname mean?

The Gaelic surname referring to a person from Fennessy, Offaly.

What does the Fennessy map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fennessy 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.