Fenton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:

England

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In ancient Anglo-Saxon England, the ancestors of the Fenton surname lived in the region of Fenton. The surname Fenton originally derived from the Old English words Fenne and Tun which referred to an enclosed region by a dyke. There are numerous listings of this local name: a township near Carlisle, Cumberland; a chapelry in the parish of Beckingham, Lincoln; and a hamlet in the parish of Kettlethorpe, Lincoln.

Early Origins of the Fenton family

The surname Fenton was first found in Yorkshire where the Gilbert de Fenton was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. The same rolls included: Robert de Fenton, Lincolnshire; and Thomas de Fenton, Devon. 1

Ralph de Fenton, was Rector of Warham, Norfolk in 1358 2 and the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed: Ricardus de Fenton; Johannes de Fenton; and Robertus de Fenton as all holdings lands there at that time. 1

Early History of the Fenton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fenton research. Another 38 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1261, 1539, 1565, 1601, 1603, 1608, 1615, 1683, 1694, 1726, 1728, 1730, 1754, 1760 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Fenton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fenton Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Fenton are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Fenton include: Fenton, Fentun, Fentoun, Fentown, Fentoune and many more.

Early Notables of the Fenton family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Sir Geoffrey Fenton (c.1539-1608), English writer and Privy Councillor (government advisor) from Nottinghamshire. His brother Edward Fenton (d. 1603), the English navigator, helped discovery the North...
Roger Fenton (1565-1615), was born in Lancashire in 1565, educated at Cambridge University, becoming fellow of Pembroke Hall. In 1601 he was made rector of St. Stephen's, Walbrook, and in 1603 of the...
Elijah Fenton (1683-1730), was an English poet, biographer and translator. He was born at Shelton, near Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, 20 May 1683. He was descended from an ancient family. His...
Lavinia Fenton, whose real name was Beswick, was an actress and singer who first appeared in 1726 at the Haymarket Theatre as the Parish Girl, in Gay's burlesque, 'The What d'ye call it,' and afterwar...

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. 3 However, in Australia, the name Fenton is ranked the 819^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,803 people with that name. 4 And in New Zealand, the name Fenton is the 649^th popular surname with an estimated 1,107 people with that name. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Fenton as 734^th with 9,144 people. 6

Migration of the Fenton family to Ireland

Some of the Fenton family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 80 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fenton migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Fenton or a variant listed above:

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 7
Jane Fenton, who arrived in Virginia in 1652 7
... (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 7
Anne Fenton, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 7
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 7
... (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 7
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 7
Samuel Fenton, who arrived in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1847 7
... (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 8

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 9
Charles Fenton, English convict from Warwick, who was transported aboard the "Arab" on July 3, 1822, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 10
Edmund Fenton, aged 40, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Flora" 11
Dennis Fenton, aged 31, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Flora" 11
Michael Fenton, aged 29, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Flora" 11
... (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 12
H.Fenton, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Bank of England" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 10th October 1850 12
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 12
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 12
... (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. 13

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 14
Daniel G. Fenton, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Wisconsin State Senate 3rd District, 1848 14
Charles W. Fenton, American politician, U.S. Consul in Southampton, 1849-50 14
Charles B. Fenton, American politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from Mackinac District, 1867-68, 1871-72 14
Barbara Ann Fenton, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Rhode Island, 2012 14
Aubrey Fenton, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from New Jersey, 2008 14
Arthur Fenton, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Kansas, 1924 14
... (Another 43 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Fenton family +

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: Gwell angau na gwarth
Motto Translation: Death before disgrace.