Fender
Usually a surname for a defender or keeper, probably from Middle English and Old English words meaning “to defend.”
The #5,743 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 51,168 Americans shares it.
Etymology
This surname is most likely from Middle English fender, an agent noun linked to Old English fendian, “to defend.” In that sense, it would originally have meant “defender,” “protector,” or someone appointed to ward off harm, such as a guard or watchman. Some 19th-century writers also connected it with a nickname or commemorative byname, but the basic “defender” explanation is the standard one.
History
Early surname scholars treated Fender as an English name and compared it with related forms such as Defender, Fence, and other protection-related surnames. It appears in historical records in England, and later examples in Britain and the United States show that it survived as a relatively uncommon surname. The spelling may also have been influenced by the common noun fender, though the surname’s root meaning is older.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
A few older surname dictionaries note that Fender could be tied to the same idea as a guard or warder, making it one of several English surnames built around protection and defense.
From the historical record
“shire. FENDER. The O. E. fend signifies to defend, (see Halliwell in roc.) ; a ' Fender' may therefore mean a defender, and this indeed is almost proved by the Le Fendur of the H. R. — An appellation given in com- memoration of some remarkable exploit. FENN. A-Sax. feim, a marsh or bog. From residence near one. In…”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United KingdomNotable people named Fender
- Leo Fender (1909–1991)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.