Contents [hide]

Fenton History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Fenton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Belgium
England
Scotland

Early Origins of the Fenton family

The surname Fenton was first found in Angus (Gaelic: Aonghas), part of the Tayside region of northeastern Scotland, and present day Council Area of Angus, formerly known as Forfar or Forfarshire. From early times, the Fentons of lords of Dirleton held the barony of Fenton in East Lothian. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is of John de Fenton, who was Sheriff of Forfar in 1261.

"Although first appearing in Angus the name has doubt less been derived from the barony of Fenton in East Lothian, held by the Fentons of the lords of Dirleton. Sir William de Fentone sometime before 1270 married Cecilia de Bisset, daughter of Sir John Bisset of Lovat and so acquired the estate of Beaufort (HP., I, p. 210n), and in 1278 it was directed that he receive in the king's court his wife's pur-party of her father's lands in Ireland (Bain, II, 129). The same Sir William, of the county of Edinburgh, swore fealty to the king of England on July 23, 1291 (ibic., II. p. 124), and performed homage in 1298 (ibid., p. 169). His seal bears on a shield three crescents, two and one. and S' Domini Wilelmi de Fentun." 1

Early History of the Fenton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fenton research. Another 177 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1330, 1362, 1413, 1426, 1478 and 1501 are included under the topic Early Fenton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fenton Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Fenton, Fentone, Fentoun and others.

Early Notables of the Fenton family

More information is included under the topic Early Fenton Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fenton World Ranking

In the United States, the name Fenton is the 1,960^th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 2 However, in Australia, the name Fenton is ranked the 819^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,803 people with that name. 3 And in New Zealand, the name Fenton is the 649^th popular surname with an estimated 1,107 people with that name. 4 The United Kingdom ranks Fenton as 734^th with 9,144 people. 5

Fenton migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Fenton Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Robert Fenton, who settled in Virginia in 1606
James Fenton purchased land in Virginia in 1623
Henry Fenton received a land grant in Virginia in 1638
Henry Fenton, who arrived in Virginia in 1638 6
Jane Fenton, who arrived in Virginia in 1652 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Fenton Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Benj Fenton, who arrived in Virginia in 1700 6
Anne Fenton, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 6
Thomas and William Fenton arrived at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1760
Bartholomew Fenton, a convict sent to America in 1770
Richard Fenton, aged 26, who arrived in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1774 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Fenton Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Geo Fenton, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 6
Ann Fenton, who settled in New York, NY in 1821
Alexr. Fenton, who arrived in New York in 1831
David Fenton, who landed in New York in 1832 6
Samuel Fenton, who arrived in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1847 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Fenton Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Anna Rebecca Fenton, who arrived in Illinois in 1952

Fenton migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Fenton Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Sarah Fenton, who settled in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1775
Mary Fenton, aged 9, who landed in Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia in 1775
Sarah Fenton, aged 15, who landed in Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia in 1775
Mr. Jacob Fenton U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 7

Fenton Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Fenton, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1823
Honiara Fenton, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1831
James Fenton, aged 23, a smith, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Providence" from Cork, Ireland
William Fenton, who arrived in Canada in 1836
Robert Fenton, who landed in Canada in 1836
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Fenton migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Fenton Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William Fenton, (Randal, Dalpain), British Convict who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
Charles Fenton, English convict from Warwick, who was transported aboard the "Arab" on July 3, 1822, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 9
Edmund Fenton, aged 40, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Flora" 10
Dennis Fenton, aged 31, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Flora" 10
Michael Fenton, aged 29, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Flora" 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Fenton migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Fenton Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

W.H . Fenton, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1844
Mr. Frank Fenton, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Bank of England" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 10th October 1850 11
H.Fenton, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Bank of England" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 10th October 1850 11
Mr. James Fenton, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Evening Star" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 14th October 1860 11
Mr. Robert Fenton, (b. 1840), aged 23, British labourer travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Fenton migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 12

Fenton Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mary Fenton, who arrived in Barbados in 1690

Fenton Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century

Alexander Fenton, who settled in Antigua (Antego) in 1738

Contemporary Notables of the name Fenton (post 1700) +

Reuben Eaton Fenton (1819-1885), American merchant and politician, 22nd Governor of New York (1865-1868), United States Senator from New York (1869-1875), eponym of Fenton, New York
Carroll Lane Fenton (1900-1969), American geologist, paleontologist, neoichnologist, and historian of science
Mildred Adams Fenton (1899-1995), American paleontologist and geologist
Elizabeth Fenton, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Connecticut, 2000 13
Daniel G. Fenton, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Wisconsin State Senate 3rd District, 1848 13
Charles W. Fenton, American politician, U.S. Consul in Southampton, 1849-50 13
Charles B. Fenton, American politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from Mackinac District, 1867-68, 1871-72 13
Barbara Ann Fenton, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Rhode Island, 2012 13
Aubrey Fenton, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from New Jersey, 2008 13
Arthur Fenton, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Kansas, 1924 13
... (Another 43 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Fenton family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. Walter Fenton (1886-1914), English First Class Passenger from Manchester, England, United Kingdom who survived the sinking on the Empress of Ireland 14

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. John Fenton, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 15
Mr. Elba Fenton, British Petty Officer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 15

HMS Repulse

Mr. William Fenton, British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 16
Mr. Alfred C Fenton, British Leading Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 16

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Colin Stanley Moorhouse Fenton, English Deck Engineer from Sheffield, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 17

The Fenton Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Per Ardua Surgo
Motto Translation: I rise above adversity

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Arab voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1822 with 155 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/arab/1822
South Australian Register Monday 9th April 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Flora 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/flora1855.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 10) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/