Surname Faninge - Meaning and Origin

Faninge: What does the surname Faninge mean?

The Danish surname Faninge derives from the Old Norse personal name Finni, which has sometimes also been spelled as Fannig. It is a compound name composed of the elements ‘finnr’, which refers to someone of Finnish extraction or origin, and ‘ingi,’ which derives from the god Frey and is used as a suffix to denote ‘progeny’ or ‘descendant’.

The surname first appeared in the 16th century in Copenhagen, Denmark, and is still found in the area today. It is also found in Norway, but not as frequently as in Denmark. It is likely that the Faninge surname was borne by Finnish migrants or their descendants who moved to Denmark and Norway in search of a better life, likely due to the harsh conditions prevailing in their homeland at the time.

The bearer of this ancient Danish surname was likely in the service of a noble family, as many Scandinavian last names were originally patronymic, or borne by descendants of someone, or of a particular place or family. Faninge is still a common last name in Scandinavia today, and its bearers are proud of its Finnish roots.

Faninge: Where does the name Faninge come from?

The last name Faninge is most commonly seen today in Sweden. In fact, in 2017 there were roughly 1,087 people living in Sweden who were recorded sharing the surname. It appears to be somewhat rare, despite its presence in Sweden.

The surname is derived from the Old Norse personal name Fann, which is thought to have been from the same root as "Fanti" (Old English, meaning "clever."). In the 14th Century Faninge was one of the few families that held land in the Wildenmoors of England, where it was commonly known as Fanninge. It was most likely adopted by immigrants to Sweden during this period, who were likely attracted by economic opportunities or seeking refuge from would-be invaders.

Today, the name is still prominent in Sweden. It is mostly featured within families living in major cities like Stockholm, Gothenburg, Uppsala, and Karlstad. Although not a common sight, the name is routinely seen on the streets, in Swedish media, and in print.

The name is also spoken in Norway, Denmark, and the United States. In 2017 there were 2,221 people in the United States whose last name was Faninge.

Overall, Faninge is not an exceedingly common surname, but it has a presence in Swedish culture. Its Old Norse origins may hint at a connection to a distant past, making it a unique name with words that do not easily roll off the tongue.

Variations of the surname Faninge

The surname Faninge is derived from the Old Norse personal name "Finnr", which means "man from Finland". Variants for the surname include Faning, Fanning, Fannon, Fannin, Fannings, Fannens, Fannong, Fanninge and Finninge.

Alternative spellings for Faninge include Faining, Fannin, Fanninn, Fannynge and Fanninges. Surnames of the same origin are Finnan, Fanna, Finnigan, Finnin, Finnigan, Fennin and Fenning.

Faninge is a fairly rare surname though it is most prevalent in the United Kingdom. It is also present in Australia, Canada, and the United States and is known to be of Irish origin.

The surname has a number of different spellings due to various pronunciations by people in different countries and regions. Some variations include Fannyng, Feminyg, Fyning, Faningge, Fanningge, Foninge, Fonnynge, Finnally, Fanningg and Fenninge.

The variation Faninge is most likely a combination of the Scottish surname Finney and the Anglo-Saxon given name Fane, which was the name fashioned by settlers from the North Sea as they travelled further north and inland.

It also bears a resemblance to the Faroese surname Fannung, which is derived from a former Faroese personal name of the same spelling. Another variant of the surname is Faningall, which has the same roots as Faninge, but comes from the Irish surname Fannin.

The surname Faninge is quite uncommon and is thought to be the result of a combination of given name and far-flung family origins. In some cases, the variations even reflect what language the surname was carried in over many generations.

Famous people with the name Faninge

• Jim Fielding- a British television actor, best known for playing Clive Jones in the children's fantasy program The Worst Witch.
• Christina Faninge- a Canadian model and actress, best known for her appearances in the popular Canadian series Stoked.
• Jakob Faninge- a Norwegian pop rock singer, known for his hit song, "Beauty is Everything".
• Ruby Faninge- a South African singer, songwriter, and actress, known for her chart-topping single, "Something in the Rain".
• Tarjei Faninge- an Icelandic film director, best known for the independent feature film, The Last Viking.
• Kristoffer Faninge- a Swedish game designer, known for his innovative video game Impossible Mission.
• Rachel Faninge- an English actress, best known for her role as Rosemary Sherman in the popular British drama series EastEnders.
• Jennifer Faninge- an American pop singer-songwriter, known for her hit single, "Love the Way You Lie".
• Brad Faninge- an Australian cricketer, best known for his successful stint with the national team in the late 1990s.
• Levi Faninge- an Israeli athlete, best known as one of the top ten pole vaulters of all-time.

Other surnames

Fanin