The Fanning surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 11,007 people carried this name — #3,284 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 26,800 people counted. That is up 2% from 10,836 in 2000.

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In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 45 births for the Fanning name in 1890.

They were registered in all four provinces, most of all in Leinster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 2,000 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. 23 of them were indexed under other spellings of the name. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Wexford, Tipperary, and Waterford.”

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born, 1890

Leinster 16
Connacht 13
Munster 12
Ulster 4

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

45 families named Fanning, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 231 people lived in those households, 5.1 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 4 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Connecticut 16
New York 10
Massachusetts 6
North Carolina 5
Pennsylvania 2
Virginia 2
South Carolina 2
Maine 1
Vermont 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 239 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Fanning in American newspapers,
1876–1894.

Newspaper page from Helena Weekly Herald carrying the name Fanning
Helena Weekly Herald 1876-05-25
Newspaper page from The New North-west carrying the name Fanning
The New North-west 1894-12-21
Newspaper page from The New North-west carrying the name Fanning
The New North-west 1894-12-21

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain.

In print

Fanning in Australian newspapers,
1830s–2000s.

29,372 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Fanning. The most, 5,199, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in the Northern Territory, at 3.2 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 9,134
Victoria 8,002
Queensland 7,492
South Australia 2,246
Western Australia 1,716
Tasmania 438
ACT (Canberra) 148
Northern Territory 129

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Fanning.

Who carried it

People named Fanning,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Edmund Fanning
    Edmund Fanning 1739–1818 · politician
  • Edmund Fanning
    Edmund Fanning 1739–1818 · politician
  • Edward Fanning d. 1934 · politician
  • John Fanning 1701–1813 · politician
  • Edward Fanning 1711–1791
  • Joanna French 1718–1776

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Fanning,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States2,348 records

2,348 records of the Fanning name in the United States
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 975
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 436
  • Other U.S. records 937
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Edward Charles Fanning

    Born 1948; from Hazlet, New Jersey. U.S. Army, infantryman; killed in action 1969 in Quang Tin, South Vietnam. Buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Michael T. Fanning

    Born 1908 in Wisconsin. Enlisted 1942 at Portland, Oregon; driver from Multnomah County, Oregon. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1971, buried at Willamette National Cemetery, Oregon.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Bridget Fanning

    Arrived at New York in 1885 aboard the City of Berlin from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 24; servant. From Waterford, Ireland; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 2,348 records for Fanning in the United States.

Counts: NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia778 records

778 records of the Fanning name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 333
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 190
  • Other Australian records 255
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Catherine Fanning

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the John Calvin, sailing from London in 1848. Native of Kildare. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1851.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Patrick Fanning

    Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1853. Married 1853 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 45.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Edwd Fanning

    Arrived in Victoria in 1852 aboard the Orpheus, aged 31; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 778 records for Fanning in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada308 records

308 records of the Fanning name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 277
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 13
  • Other Canadian records 18
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Willard Fanning

    Killed in 1943 at the Albion Mine, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Alan Joseph Fanning

    Buried in 1981 at Mount Hermon Cemetery, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, aged 65.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.
  3. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record James Eugene Fanning

    Died in service in 1917.

    Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada.

Showing 3 of 308 records for Fanning in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).

New Zealand16 records

16 records of the Fanning name in New Zealand Christchurch City cemetery records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Vincent Stephen David Fanning

    Died 1994, aged 80; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Stephen Fanning

    Died 1924, aged 93; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Violet Fanning

    Died 1978, aged 69; buried at Waimairi Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 16 records for Fanning in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

United Kingdom13 records

13 records of the Fanning name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 8
  • Welsh wills index cards 4
  • Scottish rolls of honour, First World War 1
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Alexander Fanning

    Born 1882 at Whitehouse. Died 1917. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record William Fanning

    Will proved in 1939; of Amlwch, Anglesea.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record W. Fanning

    Royal Field Artillery. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 13 records for Fanning in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Ireland3 records

3 records of the Fanning name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Delia Fanning

    Died 1994, aged 72; buried at Carraroe, Williamstown, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Brigid Fanning

    Died 1940, aged 69; buried at Cortoon, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Fanning

    Died 1991, aged 75; buried at Carraroe, Williamstown, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands1 record

1 record of the Fanning name in the Netherlands Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths)
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Anna Fanning

    Died 1907 in Moergestel.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Fanning.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Fanning is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Fanning volume
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