Explore the Family Name Fessenden
The meaning of Fessenden
English (Kent): probably from a lost or unidentified place in Kent, named with an unexplained first element + Old English denu ‘valley’. The variant Fishenden is also found.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Fessenden in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Fessenden has seen a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. Its rank fell from 16,819 to 17,639, marking a -4.88% change. However, the actual count of individuals with the Fessenden surname increased marginally by 1.98%, from 1,562 in 2000 to 1,593 in 2010. The proportion per 100k also saw a decrease, moving from 0.58 to 0.54, a change of -6.9%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #16,819 | #17,639 | -4.88% |
| Count | 1,562 | 1,593 | 1.98% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.58 | 0.54 | -6.9% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Fessenden
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows that the largest group within the Fessenden surname identifies as White, although this demographic decreased slightly by 1.69% between 2000 and 2010. There was an increase observed in other ethnic identities. The Asian/Pacific Islander group saw a significant increase of 145.31%, albeit from a small base, growing from 0.64% in 2000 to 1.57% in 2010. Those identifying as two or more races also grew by 41.74%, and the Hispanic identification increased by 45.52%. Both the Black and American Indian and Alaskan Native categories showed no change or data was suppressed for privacy.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.29% | 94.66% | -1.69% |
| Hispanic | 1.34% | 1.95% | 45.52% |
| Two or More Races | 1.15% | 1.63% | 41.74% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.64% | 1.57% | 145.31% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.58% | 0% | 0% |