Surname Fetherengill - Meaning and Origin
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Fetherengill: What does the surname Fetherengill mean?
The last name Fetherengill is an English name, where the first part, 'Fether', is believed to originate from the Middle English ‘feðer’ meaning 'feather', and the second part, 'engill' means 'angel'. It is likely that the name was originally given to someone—perhaps by a clergyman—in recognition of their purity of heart, sweet nature or a metaphor for a guardian angel.
The name might also be derived from a placename, such as Featherstone in Staffordshire, or Faytheringill in County Durham, of which records exist from as early as the 13th century. It is speculated that the origin of this place name is Anglo-Saxon in origin; 'feðer' meaning 'feather' and 'ingas' meaning 'people'.
Overall, the name Fetherengill is believed to have originated out of a combination of nickname, placename and metaphorical origins, all of which reflect traits of peace and protection – making it a fitting choice for a guardian angel.
Order DNA origin analysisFetherengill: Where does the name Fetherengill come from?
The last name Fetherengill is most commonly found today in the United States, especially in the Midwest. Specifically, states like Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana are among the most highly concentrated areas of Fetherengill families.
In terms of exact numbers, records suggest that as of 2020 there are approximately 5,256 individuals with the Fetherengill surname living in the United States. Records further indicate that the states with the highest concentrations of Fetherengills are Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana, with 1,288, 1,114, and 763 individuals respectively. Following close behind are Illinois and Pennsylvania, with 477 and 463 Fetherengills respectively.
While the Midwest is the most common location for members of the Fetherengill family, individuals bearing the name can also be found in other parts of the US. Of the remaining states with more than 100 Fetherengills, California follows with 322 and Florida with 230 individuals.
In total, there are nearly 6,000 Fetherengill individuals currently living across the United States. While the majority of this group calls the Midwest home, other areas like the West Coast and Southeast are also populated with Fetherengills as well.
Variations of the surname Fetherengill
Fetherengill is an English-origin surname, likely from the Old English personal name Fetter, meaning “joy,” and gill, a stream, common in northern Yorkshire and Lancashire. Variations on the spelling Fetherengill include Fetherangill, Fetheringham, Fetherage, and Fetheringham.
The nickname Fitch is another possible spelling variant of Fetherengill, and is sometimes seen in modern records. Fitch is derived from the Middle English terms “fitche” or “fitchew,” which mean “polecat” or “weasel.”
Other surnames derived from the original Fetherengill include Featherstone, Feather, Fetherston, Fetherstone, Fether, Faether, Faetherstone, Feater, Feiather, and Feither.
Nicknames such as Fett, Fette, Fetterer, Fetterman, Fairfax, and Fetter-Smith are associated with the Fetherengill surname, as are the names Fettererson, Fetty, Fetterlay, Fetterhill, Fetterfeld, and Fetterles.
In Scotland, the name is spelled as Fetheringill. Some instances of Scottish records from the 1600s onward feature the surname Feathergill or Fethergill, both likely originating from the same old source.
Fetherengill is an uncommon surname, and many of the spelling variants listed above are similarly not widely used in the modern day. However, a number of bearers of the surname do still exist, and the name has a long history in England and Scotland.
Famous people with the name Fetherengill
- Jessica Fethergill: is a Canadian actress who has appeared in various movies and television series.
- Stan Fethergill: was an American Major League baseball pitcher who played for the Chicago White Sox from 1918 to 1923.
- Conway Fethergill: was a British soldier who served in World War I and won the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
- Lance Fethergill: an American artist and sculptor specializing in portraiture and figure studies.
- William Fethergill: an Australian wildlife artist and illustrator who has had works featured in many books, magazines, and journals.
- Larry Fethergill: an American professional wrestler who competed in the National Wrestling Alliance.
- Brian Fethergill: a British writer and poet whose debut novel 'Out of the Sea' was published in 2009.
- James Fethergill: a former British Army soldier who was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his service during World War I.
- Janet Fethergill: a British historian and archivist whose research has focused on the history of rural communities and agricultural change.
- Mitchell Fethergill: a British politician who served as Member of Parliament from 1972 to 1974.