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Fenton

The Meaning & Origin of the Name Fenton

Fenton is an English boy name, which has 6 letters.

Fenton is an English surname derived from a place name, which is of Old English origin. It is composed of the elements fenn, meaning "marsh" or "fen", and tun, meaning "enclosure" or "settlement". It is most commonly thought to mean "marsh settlement".

Detailed Information About The Name Fenton

The name Fenton is a personal name of English origin. It is primarily a surname that later evolved into a given name. The etymology of the surname Fenton can be traced back to the Old English words "fenn" and "tun," meaning "fen" or "marsh" and "enclosure" or "settlement," respectively. This suggests that the name originally referred to someone living near a marshy area or settlement in the English countryside.

The surname Fenton has been recorded in England since medieval times, with the earliest known instance dating back to the 13th century. Over time, the name Fenton has spread beyond its original English roots and has become moderately popular as a given name in various English-speaking countries. Its usage as a given name was influenced by the popularity of surnames-as-given-names trend that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Notable individuals bearing the name Fenton include Sydney Fenton, an English cricketer who played in the late 19th to early 20th century, and Red Fenton, a professional ice hockey player who competed in the National Hockey League in the 1930s. These individuals have helped maintain the visibility and significance of the name Fenton in their respective fields.

Today, the name Fenton continues to be used as both a surname and a given name. It is regarded as a unique and distinctive name choice, often associated with qualities such as strength, resilience, and a connection to nature. The popularity of Fenton as a given name remains relatively moderate, making it a less common choice compared to more popular names.