Surname Fernan - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'F'
Fernan: What does the surname Fernan mean?
The surname Fernan is of Spanish origin and is derived from the personal name Fernando, which means "journey" or "adventure." Its roots can be traced to the Visigoths, a Germanic tribe who ruled Spain between the 5th and 8th centuries. The surname is patronymic, implying it was originally used to denote "son of Fernando." Later it became a family name passed down from generation to generation. Like many surnames that originated from personal names, Fernan was likely first used to distinguish between different individuals with the same first name in the same area. The spread of the surname throughout the Spanish-speaking world would largely have been influenced by the movement of people for trade, exploration, and conquest. Today, individuals with the last name Fernan can be found in several countries, including Spain, Portugal, and several nations in Latin America.
Order DNA origin analysisFernan: Where does the name Fernan come from?
The surname Fernan is of Spanish origin. It derives from a personal name Fernando, which is composed of the elements 'farth' meaning journey and 'nanthi' denoting daring or brave. Fernan was first found in the medieval Kingdom of Castile, which is now a part of modern-day Spain. It's a patronymic last name, indicating that the first person to bear the name was the son or descendant of a person named Fernando.
Today, people with the surname Fernan can be found in different parts of the world due to migration and diaspora, but it is more commonly found in countries with a significant Spanish influence. These include Spain, Portugal, and Latin American countries such as Mexico and the Philippines. The name is particularly prevalent in the Philippines, likely due to the country's history as a Spanish colony.
Variations of the surname Fernan
The surname Fernan is primarily of Spanish origin, but it can be found among other cultures as well. Common variants for the surname often include Fernando, Fernandez, and Hernan. The name can sometimes be seen prefixed with 'De' or 'Del', common in Spanish surnames to denote a geographical origin or ancestral residence. For example: De Fernan or Del Fernan.
The name Fernan could also be a derivative of the Old Germanic name "Ferdinand" brought to Spain by the Visigoths before the Muslim conquest. In this theory, alternative forms of Fernan can include Ferdinando, Ferdinandi, Ferdinandez, and Ferdinans.
Similar surnames in other cultures include: Ferrand (French), Ferenc (Hungarian), and Ferrando (Italian). Also, in certain parts of Spain, particularly in Catalonia and the Basque Country, the surname could be rendered as Ferran.
Variant spellings of Fernan due to phonetic transcription may include Fearnan, Farnan, Firnan, Ferren, Ferne, and Fern. These variations often occurred when the name was Anglicized in English-speaking countries such as Ireland, Scotland, and the USA.
Gaelic derivatives from the old Irish Ó Fearáin may also result in O'Fernan or Fernane in an English context.
Famous people with the name Fernan
- The name 'Fernan' is somewhat uncommon among celebrities and public figures, but there are a few notable individuals with this surname.
- Eduardo Fernan: A well-known professional photographer based in Miami, USA.
- Raffy Tima and Mariz Umali: Though their surnames are not Fernan, they are popular news anchors in the Philippines working in GMA’s 24 Oras under Jessica Soho, a respected journalist who is the wife of Perry Fernan.
- Juan Ponce and Emily Ponce de Leon: These two are not exactly with the last name Fernan, but are related to the prominent Fernan family. They are the children of Elsa Fernan and her husband Fernando Ponce de Leon. Please note that the Fernan family is well-known in the Philippines due to Marcelo Fernan, who served as Chief Justice and Senate President. However, he is no longer alive. It's also worth noting that quite a few public figures may use a different stage name or pseudonym, meaning they may not be instantly recognizable by their birth surname.