Fenton is both a surname and a male given-name, literally-meaning "fen/marsh town", originating as the name of several English places, popular in the United States and New Zealand. It is also a name of Irish-Gaelic origin; Ó Fionnachta (see Finnerty) or Ó Fiachna 'descendant of Fiachna', an old personal name Anglicized as Feighney and sometimes mistranslated as 'Hunt' (see Fee). Notable people with the name include:
People with the surname
Actors and actresses Lavinia Fenton (1708–1760) Leonard Fenton (1926–2022) Simon Fenton
Journalists Anthony Fenton, Canadian Faith Fenton Tom Fenton
Musicians Bernie Fenton (1921–2001), British jazz pianist, co-founder of Club Eleven Carl Fenton George Fenton (1949–2026), English composer John William Fenton (died 1890), British bandmaster, associated with the Japanese national anthem Julian Fenton (born 1964), English rock musician Paul Fenton Shane Fenton, singer aka Alvin Stardust
Politicians Bob Fenton (1923–2013), New Zealand politician Darien Fenton (born 1954), New Zealand politician Donovan Fenton, American politician from New Hampshire Ivor D. Fenton (1889–1986), American politician from Pennsylvania James Fenton (1864–1950), Australian politician Joseph S. Fenton (1781–1851), American politician from Michigan Kelly Fenton (born 1966), American politician from Minnesota Reuben Fenton (1819–1885), American politician from New York William M. Fenton (1808–1871), American politician from Michigan
Sportspersons Billy Fenton Darin Fenton, Canadian curler Ewan Fenton, Scottish footballer Georgia-Mae Fenton (born 2000), British artistic gymnast Geraldine Fenton (died 2026), Canadian ice dancer Isaac Fenton (1910–1997), English footballer John Fenton (hurler) Lorraine Fenton Nick Fenton Paul Fenton (ice hockey), American ice hockey player Peggy Fenton (1927–2013), American baseball player Rashad Fenton (born 1997), American football player Ron Fenton (1940–2013), English footballer and manager Ted Fenton
Writers Elijah Fenton (1683–1730), an English poet, biographer and translator. Ferrar Fenton (1832-1920), translator of the Bible Geoffrey Fenton (c. 1539 – 1608), an English writer James Fenton (born 1949), an English poet, journalist and literary critic. He is a former Oxford Professor of Poetry James Fenton (1931–2021), Ulster Scots writer and poet.
Other Beatrice Fenton (1887–1983), American sculptor Carroll Lane Fenton, American geologist, paleontologist, author Clyde Fenton, flying doctor David Fenton, founder of Fenton Communications Edward Fenton (died 1603), navigator Frank Fenton (disambiguation) Geoffrey Fenton (c. 1539–1608), English writer, Privy Councillor, and Principal Secretary of State in Ireland Gwen Fenton, Australian Antarctic scientist H. J. H. Fenton, chemical engineer John Charles Fenton, lawyer Joseph Fenton, informer killed by the Provisional Irish Republican Army Joseph Clifford Fenton, editor of American Ecclesiastical Review (1944–66) Mildred Adams Fenton, American geologist, palaeontologist, author Myles Fenton (1830–1918), British manager of railway companies Prudence Fenton, producer Richard Fenton, Welsh topographer, poet and writer Roger Fenton, photographer Steve Fenton, footballer Steve Fenton, rugby league player Suzanne Fenton, American biologist Ted Fenton, manager of West Ham United Wayne Fenton (1953–2006), American psychiatrist, researcher with National Institute of Mental Health William N. Fenton (1908–2005), American anthropologist, academic, and author
People with the given name Fenton Johnson (poet) (1888–1958), American poet, essayist, author of short stories, editor and educator Fenton Keogh, celebrity chef Fenton Robinson, blues musician Fenton Williams, lighting designer, founder of Filament Productions Fenton Bailey, filmmaker and television producer
Fictional characters Fenton, a 'young gentleman' in Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor Harry Fenton, in the television series Peaky Blinders Lord Fenton, in the novel Scarlett Fenton Crackshell, aka GizmoDuck from DuckTales Fenton, the Death Sheep from Hell, the subject of the song "Sheep Marketing Ploy" by Tom Smith Fenton Mewley, from the animated television series Home Movies Fenton Hardy from the Hardy Boys books Fenton O'Connell, an alias of Kevin Ryan in the television series Castle Fenton Meiks, in the film Frailty Fenton, a minor character who has a feud with Fez in the television series That '70s Show Daniel Fenton, a main character of the animated television series Danny Phantom
See also Fenton (disambiguation)
References