UK surname
A locational surname referring to a person from some place called Fenmore.
In the 1881 census there were 71 people recorded with the Fennimore surname, ranking it #23,517 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 37, ranked #35,582, down from #23,517 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Walthamstow, Low Leyton and St Werburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fennimore is 127 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 47.9%.
1881 census count
71
Ranked #23,517
Modern count
37
2016, ranked #35,582
Peak year
1901
127 bearers
Map years
1
1901 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Fennimore surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Fennimore surname density by area, 1901 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 | 8 | #31,867 |
| 1861 | historical | 29 | #30,287 |
| 1881 | historical | 71 | #23,517 |
| 1891 | historical | 98 | #24,313 |
| 1901 | historical | 127 | #19,893 |
| 1911 | historical | 60 | #26,808 |
| 1997 | modern | 45 | #33,168 |
| 1998 | modern | 45 | #33,374 |
| 1999 | modern | 45 | #33,511 |
| 2000 | modern | 40 | #33,976 |
| 2001 | modern | 42 | #33,658 |
| 2002 | modern | 40 | #34,133 |
| 2003 | modern | 41 | #34,113 |
| 2004 | modern | 41 | #34,306 |
| 2005 | modern | 41 | #34,478 |
| 2006 | modern | 46 | #34,415 |
| 2007 | modern | 43 | #34,845 |
| 2008 | modern | 45 | #34,818 |
| 2009 | modern | 47 | #34,856 |
| 2010 | modern | 45 | #35,130 |
| 2011 | modern | 41 | #35,340 |
| 2012 | modern | 35 | #35,645 |
| 2013 | modern | 35 | #35,697 |
| 2014 | modern | 37 | #35,616 |
| 2015 | modern | 37 | #35,593 |
| 2016 | modern | 37 | #35,582 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Walthamstow, Low Leyton, St Werburgh and St Leonard Bromley. 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 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Walthamstow, Low Leyton | Essex |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | St Werburgh | Derbyshire |
| 5 | St Leonard Bromley | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Fennimore 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 Fennimore, 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 Fennimore surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Fennimore 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, Fennimore 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 Fennimore is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Fennimore, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Fennimore has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "fen" and "mor," meaning "fen" or "marsh" and "moor" or "wasteland," respectively. This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived near a marshy or moorland area.
The earliest known record of the name can be traced back to the 13th century, with variations in spelling such as Fennemore, Fennimore, and Fenmore. It is likely that the name originated in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, or Norfolk, where there were large areas of fenland and marshes.
In the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, there are no direct references to the surname Fennimore. However, there are mentions of place names that may have influenced the development of the surname, such as Fenhamstede (now Felmersham) in Bedfordshire and Fenemere (now Fenmore) in Oxfordshire.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Fennimore was John Fennimore, who was born in Suffolk, England, around 1520. Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Fennimore (1558-1633), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the City of London.
In the 17th century, the name began to appear in colonial America. One of the most famous individuals with this surname was James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851), the renowned American writer best known for his novels set in the frontier era, including "The Last of the Mohicans" and "The Deerslayer."
Other notable individuals with the Fennimore surname include:
1. William Fennimore (1776-1845), an American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey.
2. Thomas Fennimore (1800-1867), an English architect and surveyor who designed several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.
3. Mary Fennimore (1856-1932), an American educator and activist who campaigned for women's suffrage and founded the New Jersey College for Women (now Douglass Residential College at Rutgers University).
4. Edward Fennimore (1890-1966), an American artist and illustrator known for his paintings depicting scenes from the American West and the lives of Native Americans.
5. James Fennimore (1912-1988), an American businessman and philanthropist who donated significant funds to various educational and cultural institutions, including the Fennimore Art Museum in his hometown of Decatur, Illinois.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fennimore 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. Surrey leads with 19 Fennimores recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.55x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 19 | 5.55x |
| Middlesex | 16 | 2.28x |
| Devon | 8 | 5.47x |
| Bedfordshire | 5 | 13.75x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 0.60x |
| Oxfordshire | 4 | 9.22x |
| Leicestershire | 3 | 3.85x |
| Buckinghamshire | 2 | 4.71x |
| Cornwall | 2 | 2.52x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 0.84x |
| Worcestershire | 2 | 2.18x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.82x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 2.07x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 11.95x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.56x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 8 Fennimores recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.83x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Camberwell | 8 | 17.83x |
| Stoke Damerel | 7 | 68.43x |
| Bermondsey | 5 | 23.91x |
| Bromley London | 5 | 32.36x |
| Clophill | 5 | 1851.85x |
| Battersea | 4 | 15.48x |
| Liverpool | 4 | 7.90x |
| Oxford St Peter In East | 4 | 2352.94x |
| St Marylebone London | 4 | 10.67x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 3 | 15.80x |
| Shoreditch London | 3 | 9.86x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 3.54x |
| Wolverhampton | 2 | 10.97x |
| Worcester St Helen | 2 | 689.66x |
| Broad Clist | 1 | 200.00x |
| Edgbaston | 1 | 18.21x |
| Hatfield | 1 | 102.04x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 2.56x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.63x |
| Langley Marish | 1 | 192.31x |
| Leckhampstead | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Penlline | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 13.99x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 8.08x |
| St Neot | 1 | 322.58x |
| Stoke Climsland | 1 | 196.08x |
| Streatham | 1 | 19.19x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 3.54x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Fennimore 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 Fennimore 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 Fennimore households.
FAQ
In 1881, 71 people were recorded with the Fennimore surname. That placed it at #23,517 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 37 in 2016. That gives Fennimore a modern rank of #35,582.
A locational surname referring to a person from some place called Fenmore.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fennimore 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.