The Fountain surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 20,193 people carried this name — #1,774 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 14,600 people counted. That is up 6% from 19,094 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Fountain surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘at the fountain’.

An early record he cites: Adam de la Funteyne, Norfolk, 1256–57 (41 Henry III) — History of Norfolk (Blomefield and Parkin).

His entry covers Fountain, Fountaine and Founteen.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 297 · public domain.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Fountain was found among the farmers of Buckinghamshire: 48 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. His list gives one count for the spellings Fountain and Fountaine.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Buckinghamshire 48

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

54 families named Fountain, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 299 people lived in those households, 5.5 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 5 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

Maryland 14
North Carolina 10
New York 9
Virginia 8
South Carolina 5
Maine 4
Vermont 2
Connecticut 2

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

Fountain in American newspapers,
1888–1917.

Newspaper page from The Commonwealth carrying the name Fountain
The Commonwealth 1914-09-25
Newspaper page from The Daily Commonwealth carrying the name Fountain
The Daily Commonwealth 1917-02-19
Newspaper page from The Somerset Reporter carrying the name Fountain
The Somerset Reporter 1888-12-06

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 1,835 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Fountain in Australian newspapers,
1830s–1990s.

17,457 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Fountain. The most, 3,064, date from the 1890s. 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 South Australia, at 1.6 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 5,743
Victoria 4,085
South Australia 3,405
Queensland 3,026
Western Australia 759
Tasmania 323
ACT (Canberra) 61
Northern Territory 25

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

Who carried it

People named Fountain,
with a public archive behind them.

  • William Alfred Fountain
    William Alfred Fountain 1870–1955 · teacher
  • Lawrence H. Fountain
    Lawrence H. Fountain 1913–2002 · lawyer
  • Ellen Fountain d. 1949
  • Edward Fountain 1857–1923 · baseball player
  • Richard T. Fountain 1885–1945 · judge
  • Guy R. Fountain 1898–1977

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 9 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Fountain,
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 States1,502 records

1,502 records of the Fountain name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 595
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 329
  • Other U.S. records 578
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Edwin V. Fountain

    Born 1919 in New York. Enlisted 1944 at Camp Upton Yaphank; bookkeeper from Bronx County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1981, 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)
  2. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Edward J. Fountain

    Born 1932; from Hartford County, Connecticut. U.S. Army, field wire foreman; killed in action 1953 in North Korea.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record William Fountain

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Teutonic from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 38; laborer. From Bradford, England; bound for Philadelphia.

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

Showing 3 of 1,502 records for Fountain in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · 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, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia531 records

531 records of the Fountain name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 286
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 136
  • Other Australian records 109
  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 George Fountain

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the John Barry, sailing from London in 1834. Native of Yorkshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1843. Married 1843 in Oatlands, Tasmania, aged 36.

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

    Arrived in Victoria in 1858 aboard the Anglo Saxon, aged 7; Irish.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Alfred J. Fountain

    Clerk of St Kilda, Victoria; died 1925.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 531 records for Fountain 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) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · State Library of Western Australia (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); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Canada156 records

156 records of the Fountain name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 117
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 10
  • Other Canadian records 29
  1. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Betsy Fountain

    Left New York in 1783 aboard the Free Britain, bound for Port Roseway, aged 21.

    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 Clarence Fountain

    Buried in 1969 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 84.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  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 George Morton Fountain

    Died in service in 1916.

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

Showing 3 of 156 records for Fountain in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0); 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).

United Kingdom24 records

24 records of the Fountain name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 20
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 4
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Louisa Fountain

    Buried in 1798 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 40.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record S. Fountain

    Loyal North Lancashire 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 page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Elizh Fountain

    Buried in 1825 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 78.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 3 of 24 records for Fountain 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: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Netherlands16 records

16 records of the Fountain name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 11
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 5
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Jacob Fountain

    Married in 1843 in Amsterdam; shipwright.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Marguerite Fountain

    In the population register of 's-Gravenhage; born 1895 in Londen.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Jacobus Fountain

    In the population register of Amsterdam; born 1848 in Amsterdam.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Amsterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 16 records for Fountain 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); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

New Zealand10 records

10 records of the Fountain name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 9
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Henry Fountain

    Died 1880, aged 49; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Havelock Russell Fountain

    Died 1993, aged 84; buried at Ruru Lawn, 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 Henrietta Francis Fountain

    Died 1903, aged 30; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 10 records for Fountain in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District 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).

France1 record

1 record of the Fountain 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 Rene Jacques Fountain

    Born 1909 in Maisons-Laffitte (Yvelines); died 1988 in Boulogne-sur-Mer (Pas-de-Calais).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

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).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Fountain.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Fountain 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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