Surname Fennema - Meaning and Origin

Fennema: What does the surname Fennema mean?

The surname Fennema is an occupational surname and has Dutch origins. It is an occupational name for a fisherman, derived from the Middle Dutch word ‘fenne’, meaning ‘hay’. This is a reference to fen, an area of low-lying land where hay was grown and harvested as feed for livestock.

The name is common in parts of northern Europe, with records of the surname in The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Columbia and the United States. It is believed that the surname may have arisen from the presence of Dutch immigrants in these countries.

People with the surname Fennema have made considerable contributions to the history and culture of different parts of the world. A few of these include Peter Fennema, a Dutch Impressionistic painter; Wil Fennema, a Dutch architect; and William Fennema, a former mayor of Dearborn, Michigan.

As with many Dutch occupational surnames, the prefix ‘van’ is often added to differentiate between branches of the Fennema family. For example, ‘Van Fennema’ is an occupational surname for a merchant, derived from the Dutch word ‘fene’, meaning ‘market’.

The Fennema family is an ancient one with a rich history stretching back centuries. It is testament to the entrepreneurial spirit of the family that its members have spread across the globe and made a contribution to the world in terms of culture, art and industry.

Fennema: Where does the name Fennema come from?

The last name Fennema is most common in the Netherlands, particularly in the provinces of Groningen and Drenthe. In the Netherlands, it is estimated that the surname is borne by around 3,000 people today. It is also found in relatively small numbers in Belgium, Germany, Spain, and the United States.

In the United States, however, the surname is more widespread, with large concentrations of Fennemas living in Iowa, Texas, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Among those who have emigrated from the Netherlands to the United States, the surname is even more popular.

The surname Fennema is derived from the Dutch word for "fen," which means "swamp" or "marsh." It's likely that the family is descended from people who lived near swamps or marshes at some point in their past.

So, while the last name Fennema is most common in the Netherlands, especially Groningen and Drenthe, it is also quite common in the United States and elsewhere in Europe.

Variations of the surname Fennema

Fennema is a German and Dutch surname with numerous variants and spellings. Some of these spellings are Fehnema, Fehne, Feindema, Fenema, Fenner, Fenne, Fendema, and Fennema. It is believed that the surname originated from the German name “feind,” meaning “path”, which is similar to an Anglo-Saxon word for a watery way.

Fennema is also thought to have Dutch origins and there are several Dutch variants of the name. These include Vandenfeenema, van den Fenema, van den Fennema, Vennema, Venema, and van Fennema. The Dutch spelling of “Fennema” is Fennema and the plural is Fennemas.

In addition to these variations, other surnames have been derived from this Germanic origin. These include Fehneman, Fennecke, Fenneken, Fennern, Fennigschmid, Fenten, Fensch, and Fennel.

Fennema is the most common spelling of this surname, but as you can see, there are numerous variants and alternate spellings.

Famous people with the name Fennema

• Maikel Fennema: Dutch football player
• Nicky Fennema: Dutch writer and actor whose works include the books The Story of the V lovers and Nini Tolo's Path
• Peter Fennema: Dutch children's rights activist and lawyer who is a Strong Kids Program Ambassador for UNICEF
• Dirk Fennema: Belgian actor best known for his role in the TV show Gertie & René
• Mark Fennema: Canadian actor who is the voice of Arctic Wolf on the animated series Hot Wheels Battle Force 5
• Eide Fennema: Norwegian politician and member of the Centre Party
• Henry Fennema: American professor of nutritional science and associate dean at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Janice Fennema: Canadian poet whose works include the book Mantras
• John Fennema: American professor of chemistry at Cornell University
• John H. Fennema: American landscape architect with projects including cemetery and park design, visual resource management, and historic landscape preservation

Other surnames

FenneFennellFennemannFennenFennenkötterFennesseyFennessyFennesy