NameCensus.

UK surname

Fenton

From an English place name meaning "marsh town," or from a surname derived from this place name.

In the 1881 census there were 5,969 people recorded with the Fenton surname, ranking it #739 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8,630, ranked #765, down from #739 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, London parishes and Leeds. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bury, Wyre and Rotherham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fenton is 9,012 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.6%.

1881 census count

5,969

Ranked #739

Modern count

8,630

2016, ranked #765

Peak year

1999

9,012 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fenton had 5,969 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #739 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 8,630 in 2016, ranked #765.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7,524 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Fenton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fenton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fenton 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 3,544 #797
1861 historical 3,369 #847
1881 historical 5,969 #739
1891 historical 6,147 #753
1901 historical 7,524 #716
1911 historical 7,049 #735
1997 modern 8,330 #765
1998 modern 8,867 #741
1999 modern 9,012 #734
2000 modern 8,955 #735
2001 modern 8,774 #732
2002 modern 8,952 #738
2003 modern 8,713 #737
2004 modern 8,723 #741
2005 modern 8,628 #739
2006 modern 8,523 #744
2007 modern 8,566 #750
2008 modern 8,594 #750
2009 modern 8,819 #750
2010 modern 9,002 #749
2011 modern 8,816 #755
2012 modern 8,640 #752
2013 modern 8,771 #755
2014 modern 8,839 #756
2015 modern 8,697 #763
2016 modern 8,630 #765

Geography

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Where Fentons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, London parishes, Leeds, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Lytham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bury, Wyre, Rotherham, Kingston upon Hull and Leeds. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Lytham Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bury 007 Bury
2 Wyre 004 Wyre
3 Rotherham 002 Rotherham
4 Kingston upon Hull 001 Kingston upon Hull, City of
5 Leeds 110 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fenton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fenton

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Fenton 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

Fenton 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

Fenton falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fenton 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 Fenton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Fenton

The surname Fenton originated in England and traces its history back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "fenn" meaning marsh or fen, and "tun" meaning an enclosure or settlement, suggesting that the name refers to a person who lived near a marsh or fen.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fenton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Fentun" and "Fenyton." This suggests that the name was already well-established in England by the time of the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the name Fenton appeared in various records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it was spelled "Fenton" and "Fentun." During this time, the name was most commonly found in the counties of Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire.

Several notable individuals have borne the surname Fenton throughout history. One of the earliest was Sir Geoffrey Fenton (c. 1285 - c. 1350), a prominent English landowner and knight who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence. Another was Sir Thomas Fenton (c. 1480 - 1544), a court official and diplomat who served under King Henry VIII.

In the 16th century, the surname Fenton gained prominence with Edward Fenton (c. 1550 - 1603), an English navigator and explorer who led expeditions to the East Indies and the West Indies. His contemporary, Sir Geoffrey Fenton (c. 1539 - 1608), was an Irish historian and author who served as the Secretary of State for Ireland.

The 17th century saw the birth of Roger Fenton (1619 - 1669), an English theologian and writer who served as the Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge. Another notable figure was Elijah Fenton (1683 - 1730), an English poet and writer who is best known for his translations of classical works.

In the 18th century, the name Fenton was associated with Lavinia Fenton (1708 - 1760), an English actress and singer who achieved fame for her performance in the play "The Beggar's Opera." Additionally, Fenton is also the name of a town in Staffordshire, England, which likely derived its name from the surname.

Throughout its history, the surname Fenton has been associated with various place names and locations, including Fenton in Lincolnshire, Fenton in Staffordshire, and Fenton in Yorkshire, among others. These place names are thought to have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fenton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fenton 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. Lancashire leads with 1,410 Fentons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.04x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,410 2.04x
Yorkshire 1,098 1.90x
Middlesex 410 0.70x
Staffordshire 398 2.02x
Angus 320 5.92x
Suffolk 255 3.59x
Surrey 226 0.80x
Nottinghamshire 185 2.35x
Durham 161 0.93x
Essex 136 1.18x
Warwickshire 133 0.90x
Fife 110 3.19x
Perthshire 110 4.20x
Lanarkshire 95 0.50x
Lincolnshire 90 0.97x
Kent 88 0.44x
Derbyshire 77 0.84x
Midlothian 63 0.81x
Cheshire 60 0.47x
Aberdeenshire 48 0.89x
Norfolk 45 0.50x
Cumberland 34 0.68x
Glamorgan 34 0.33x
Worcestershire 32 0.42x
Northumberland 30 0.35x
Cambridgeshire 29 0.79x
Hampshire 26 0.22x
Sussex 24 0.24x
Northamptonshire 18 0.33x
Somerset 17 0.18x
Monmouthshire 16 0.38x
Renfrewshire 14 0.31x
Cornwall 13 0.20x
Herefordshire 13 0.54x
Stirlingshire 13 0.60x
Devon 12 0.10x
Gloucestershire 11 0.10x
Banffshire 10 0.83x
Denbighshire 9 0.41x
Dorset 9 0.24x
Buckinghamshire 8 0.23x
Kirkcudbrightshire 8 0.95x
Shropshire 8 0.16x
Kinross-shire 7 4.75x
Leicestershire 7 0.11x
Berkshire 6 0.14x
Inverness-shire 6 0.34x
Selkirkshire 6 1.14x
Hertfordshire 5 0.12x
Westmorland 5 0.39x
Caernarfonshire 4 0.17x
Huntingdonshire 4 0.35x
Royal Navy 4 0.58x
Berwickshire 3 0.42x
Clackmannanshire 3 0.62x
Bedfordshire 2 0.07x
Isle of Man 2 0.18x
Rutland 2 0.47x
West Lothian 2 0.23x
Ayrshire 1 0.02x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.08x
Ross-shire 1 0.06x
Wiltshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 147 Fentons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.04x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 147 7.04x
Oldham 87 3.90x
Heap 81 22.07x
Leeds 79 2.42x
Blackburn 76 4.13x
Dundee 76 3.77x
Birmingham 68 1.39x
West Bromwich 64 5.68x
Batley 62 11.29x
Bradford 61 4.36x
Preston 61 3.29x
Ecclesall Bierlow 59 5.02x
Manchester 59 1.90x
Sculcoates 52 5.68x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 50 1.59x
Liff Benvie 47 5.73x
Aston 46 1.14x
Islington London 45 0.80x
Lambeth 44 0.87x
Camberwell 42 1.13x
Dewsbury 42 7.09x
Hackney London 42 1.28x
Castleton 41 5.93x
Forfar 40 13.67x
Harborne 38 6.02x
Dunfermline 36 6.78x
Layton With Warbreck 36 14.18x
Barrow In Furness 32 3.40x
Nether Hallam 31 3.97x
Sheffield 31 1.69x
Glasgow 30 0.90x
Higher Booths 30 24.05x
Kensington London 29 0.89x
Marton 29 63.03x
St Pancras London 29 0.62x
Holy Trinity 28 2.01x
St Andrews 28 17.83x
Barony 27 0.57x
Perth West Church 27 21.74x
Sutton Stoneferry 27 16.33x
Thornhill 27 16.01x
Chadderton 26 7.69x
Pilling 26 80.05x
Salford 26 1.28x
Basford 25 6.90x
Shoreditch London 25 0.99x
West Derby 25 1.23x
Aberdeen Old Machar 24 2.13x
Govan 24 0.51x
Hammersmith London 24 1.67x
Liverpool 24 0.57x
Wortley In Bramley 24 5.24x
Barnsley 23 3.86x
Wardleworth 23 5.82x
West Ham 23 0.91x
Wolstanton 23 3.85x
Battersea 22 1.03x
Bowling 22 3.84x
Hopwood 22 24.32x
Newark Upon Trent 22 7.79x
Pudsey 22 7.12x
Chelsea London 21 1.20x
Chorlton On Medlock 21 1.91x
Everton 21 0.95x
Monkwearmouth Shore 21 6.20x
Penrith 21 11.32x
Rotherhithe 21 2.91x
Thornton In Fylde 21 13.87x
Beswick 20 11.30x
Cardiff St Mary 20 3.58x
Haslingden 20 6.98x
Newington 20 0.93x
Brechin 19 8.95x
Bury 19 2.40x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 19 2.53x
Lamesley 19 20.35x
North Meols 19 2.81x
Nottingham St Mary 19 0.93x
Hulme 18 1.25x
Wigan 18 1.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 326
Elizabeth 194
Sarah 185
Ann 124
Ellen 98
Alice 96
Jane 93
Annie 86
Emma 83
Hannah 69
Eliza 64
Emily 52
Martha 49
Margaret 47
Florence 36
Edith 35
Ada 33
Caroline 30
Louisa 28
Catherine 25
Lucy 25
Maria 25
Isabella 23
Clara 22
Fanny 22
Harriet 22
Kate 22
Agnes 20
Charlotte 20
Susan 18
Amelia 17
Susannah 17
Anne 16
Betsy 15
Frances 15
Rebecca 14
Betty 13
Laura 13
Eleanor 12
Rose 12
Maud 11
Beatrice 10
Harriett 10
Jessie 10
Julia 10
Minnie 10
Elizth. 9
Gertrude 9
Matilda 9
Sophia 9

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 331
William 299
James 181
Thomas 149
George 148
Joseph 97
Charles 96
Henry 84
Robert 76
Richard 60
Samuel 60
Arthur 56
Alfred 47
Albert 44
Edward 40
Frederick 39
Walter 39
Harry 30
David 29
Wm. 22
Abraham 21
Ernest 21
Herbert 21
Benjamin 19
Frank 17
Fred 17
Edwin 14
Thos. 12
Francis 11
Tom 10
Fredrick 9
Isaac 9
Patrick 9
Edgar 8
Fredk. 8
Mark 8
Daniel 7
Matthew 7
Peter 7
Robt. 7
Michael 6
Ralph 6
Ben 5
Geo. 5
Joe 5
Timothy 5
Chas. 4
Harold 4
Hugh 4
Jno. 4

FAQ

Fenton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fenton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,969 people were recorded with the Fenton surname. That placed it at #739 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fenton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 8,630 in 2016. That gives Fenton a modern rank of #765.

What does the Fenton surname mean?

From an English place name meaning "marsh town," or from a surname derived from this place name.

What does the Fenton map show?

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