The Fenner surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 7,678 people carried this name — #4,619 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 38,500 people counted. That is up 10% from 6,992 in 2000.

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In Switzerland’s population statistics

538 people named Fenner live in Switzerland.

They live in 20 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Zurich.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they live today

Zurich 286
St. Gallen 36
Aargau 28
Thurgau 26
Ticino 21
Bern 21
Zug 15
Lucerne 13

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 70 people named Fenner live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Buenos Aires Province.

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

Where they live today

Buenos Aires Province 25
Santa Fe 18
Misiones 17
Chubut 10

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 26 people named Fenner.

6 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 5 départements, most often Marne.

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

Where they were born

Born outside France 6
Marne 9
Alpes-Maritimes 7
Bas-Rhin 2
Drôme 1
Haut-Rhin 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Fenner was found among the farmers of Essex: 15 in every 10,000.

Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Essex 15

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

40 families named Fenner, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 237 people lived in those households, 5.9 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 2 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

Rhode Island 27
Pennsylvania 6
Massachusetts 3
North Carolina 3
Maryland 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. 240 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Fenner in American newspapers,
1883–1904.

Newspaper page from Wood County Reporter carrying the name Fenner
Wood County Reporter 1902-08-14
Newspaper page from Wood County Reporter carrying the name Fenner
Wood County Reporter 1883-05-10
Newspaper page from Wood County Reporter carrying the name Fenner
Wood County Reporter 1904-01-29

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

In print

Fenner in Australian newspapers,
1830s–2000s.

11,285 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Fenner. The most, 2,519, date from the 1930s. Victoria 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 South Australia, at 1.7 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Victoria 3,158
South Australia 2,158
Queensland 1,888
New South Wales 1,839
Western Australia 1,201
Tasmania 899
ACT (Canberra) 103
Northern Territory 6

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

Who carried it

People named Fenner,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Edward Fenner
    Edward Fenner 1501–1612 · judge
  • William Fenner
    William Fenner 1600–1640 · writer
  • Thomas Fenner d. 1593 · military personnel
  • Philip Charles Fenner Lawton d. 1993
  • George Fenner 1495–
  • Mary Fenner 1519–1588

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 Fenner,
in the records of 9 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 States872 records

872 records of the Fenner name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 232
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 194
  • Other U.S. records 446
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record James H. Fenner

    Born 1932; from Craven County, North Carolina. U.S. Army, light weapons infantry leader; killed in action 1952 in North Korea. Buried at New Bern National Cemetery, North Carolina.

    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 John Fenner

    Born 1897 in New York. Enlisted 1942 at Fort Jay Governors Island; longshoreman from Queens County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1969, buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    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 Catrine Fenner

    Arrived at New York in 1852 aboard the Favorite from Bremen, aged 18; farmer. From Seissen, Germany; bound for New York.

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

Showing 3 of 872 records for Fenner in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · 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) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Ramsey County, Minnesota (public domain) · 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).

Switzerland842 records

842 records of the Fenner name in Switzerland
  • Zürich marriage records, 16th–18th centuries 841
  • Members of the Zürich cantonal parliament since 1803 1
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Barbara Fenner

    Married in 1795 in Bäretswil, canton of Zürich; of Bettswil.

    Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich, Zürcher Ehedaten (CC BY 4.0)
  2. Zürich town hall on the Limmat, seat of the cantonal parliament, in 1891
    Pictured: Zürich town hall, 1891
    Public office Heinrich Fenner

    Born 1814. Member of the Zürich cantonal parliament; died 1891.

    Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich / Statistisches Amt des Kantons Zürich (open use)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Hans Jakob Fenner

    Married in 1735 in Küsnacht, canton of Zürich.

    Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich, Zürcher Ehedaten (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 842 records for Fenner in Switzerland.

Counts: Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich, Zürcher Ehedaten (CC BY 4.0) · Staatsarchiv des Kantons Zürich / Statistisches Amt des Kantons Zürich (open use). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Zürich town hall, 1891, Zentralbibliothek Zürich (public domain).

Australia317 records

317 records of the Fenner name in Australia
  • Tasmanian Names Index 127
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 120
  • Other Australian records 70
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Josiah Fenner

    Died 1909 in Port Cygnet, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1909.

    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 George Joseph Fenner

    Born 1874 in Richmond, Tasmania. Married 1896 in Richmond, Tasmania, aged 21.

    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 Helen Fenner

    Arrived in Victoria in 1858 aboard the Ellen Stuart, aged 5; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 317 records for Fenner in Australia.

Counts: Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Germany226 records

226 records of the Fenner name in Germany
  • Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919 221
  • German emigration and citizenship files 5
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Erich Fenner

    From Landsberg, Oberb. Reported wounded in the Bavarian casualty list of 4 August 1915 (Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 5).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Johann Julius Hermann Fenner

    Emigrated to North America in 1883.

    Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv (CC0)
  3. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Friedrich Fenner

    Emigrated to North America in 1858.

    Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv (CC0)

Showing 3 of 226 records for Fenner in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0) · Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0); Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0).

Netherlands39 records

39 records of the Fenner name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 21
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 17
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 1
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Anna Elisabeth Fenner

    Married in 1837 in Wisch. Died 1883 in Diepenheim, aged 88.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Collectie Overijssel locatie Zwolle (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record August Valentin Fenner

    Born 1840 in Rotterdam. Married in 1905 in Rotterdam. Died 1910 in Rotterdam, aged 70.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Karel Frans Lodewijk Fenner

    Died 1846 in Diepenheim, aged 79.

    Open Archives, Collectie Overijssel locatie Zwolle (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 39 records for Fenner in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Canada32 records

32 records of the Fenner name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 11
  • City of Waterloo (Ontario) cemetery records 11
  • Other Canadian records 10
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Alf Fenner

    Came to Ontario in 1877 aboard the Lake Ontario, bound for Orillia, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Florence Fenner

    Buried in 1973 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 81.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Henry Fenner

    Buried in 1943 at Mount Hope Cemetery, Waterloo, Ontario.

    Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence

Showing 3 of 32 records for Fenner in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom14 records

14 records of the Fenner name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 12
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 2
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record H. Fenner

    Queen's (Royal West Surrey Rfcument). Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record B. Fenner

    Essex Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

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

    Middlesex Regiment. 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 14 records for Fenner in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. 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).

France10 records

10 records of the Fenner name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Pierre Andre Fenner

    Born 1913 in Reims; died 1973 in Reims (Marne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Anne Ruth Fenner

    Born 1903 in Winkel; died 1992 in Colmar (Haut-Rhin).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 10 records for Fenner in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

New Zealand9 records

9 records of the Fenner 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 Louisa Fenner

    Died 1943, aged 73; buried at Linwood Cemetery, 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 Alice Fenner

    Died 1950, aged 88; buried at Addington Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 9 records for Fenner 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).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Fenner.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Fenner 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.

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