Fenech is a surname about whose origins there are several hypotheses. The most notable is the meaning of "rabbit", since is rabbit in

Maltese Maltese may refer to: * Someone or something of, from, or related to Malta * Maltese alphabet * Maltese cuisine * Maltese culture * Maltese language, the Semitic language spoken by Maltese people * Maltese people, people from Malta or of Maltese ...

. This in turn comes from the

Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...

word for fox, (, "

fennec fox The fennec fox (''Vulpes zerda'') is a small fox native to the deserts of North Africa, ranging from Western Sahara and Mauritania to the Sinai Peninsula. Its most distinctive feature is its unusually large ears, which serve to dissipate hea ...

") which like the rabbit has large ears as its distinguishing feature and may have been confused during the development of the Maltese language, which is a descendant of the

Siculo-Arabic Siculo-Arabic or Sicilian Arabic is a group of Arabic variaties that were spoken in the Emirate of Sicily (which included Malta) from the 9th century, persisting under the subsequent County of Sicily, Norman rule until the 13th century. It was d ...

dialect. The word is also thought to be a respelling of , the

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

for

millet Millets () are a highly varied group of small-seeded grasses, widely grown around the world as cereal crops or grains for fodder and human food. Most millets belong to the tribe Paniceae. Millets are important crops in the Semi-arid climate, ...

farmer. A possible

Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...

derivation of the word has also been suggested.

"Phoenician" variation

Another variation is formed from the word ''

Phoenicia Phoenicians were an Ancient Semitic-speaking peoples, ancient Semitic group of people who lived in the Phoenician city-states along a coastal strip in the Levant region of the eastern Mediterranean, primarily modern Lebanon and the Syria, Syrian ...

ns''. In fact, some bearers of this surname use the horse, a Phoenician symbol, on their crest rather than the rabbit.

"Fenwick" variation

Another variation is an

Anglo-Saxon The Anglo-Saxons, in some contexts simply called Saxons or the English, were a Cultural identity, cultural group who spoke Old English and inhabited much of what is now England and south-eastern Scotland in the Early Middle Ages. They traced t ...

one where it is derived from a family living in ''Fenwick'', which was in

Northumberland Northumberland ( ) is a ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in North East England, on the Anglo-Scottish border, border with Scotland. It is bordered by the North Sea to the east, Tyne and Wear and County Durham to the south, Cumb ...

and the

West Riding of Yorkshire The West Riding of Yorkshire was one of three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the riding was an administrative county named County of York, West Riding. The Lord Lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire, lieu ...

. This name was originally derived from the English ''

fen A fen is a type of peat-accumulating wetland fed by mineral-rich ground or surface water. It is one of the main types of wetland along with marshes, swamps, and bogs. Bogs and fens, both peat-forming ecosystems, are also known as mires ...

n'' which means "marsh" and ''

wic WIC may stand for: Businesses and organizations * WIC program, the U.S. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children * Dutch West India Company, in the 17th and 18th centuries * West Island College, a system of three pr ...

'', which means "a farm". The surname Fenwick is still widely found in northern England and has spread through most English-speaking countries.

Notable people

* Beppe Fenech Adami, Maltese politician * Chantal Bondin,

née The birth name is the name of the person given upon their birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name or to the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a births registe ...

Fenech (born 1980), Maltese footballer *

David Fenech David Fenech (born 19 July 1969) is a French composer, guitarist and singer. His style has been described as 'a kind of punk musique concrète'. He uses the studio as an instrument, using a large panel of recording techniques. He has played an ...

(born 1969), French musician *

Eddie Fenech Adami Edoardo "Eddie" Fenech Adami (born 7 February 1934) is a Malta, Maltese and Nationalist Party (Malta), Nationalist politician who served as the prime minister of Malta from 1987 until 1996, and again from 1998 until 2004. Subsequently, he was t ...

(born 1934), Prime Minister of Malta *

Edwige Fenech Edwige Fenech (, ; born 24 December 1948) is a French-Italian actress and film producer. She is mostly known as the star of a series of ''commedia sexy all'italiana'' and ''giallo'' films released predominantly through her 20 year career in the ...

(born 1948), Maltese-Italian actress and producer *

Francis Fenech Francis Xavier Fenech (17 March 1892 – 13 May 1969) was a Maltese prelate who became the first bishop of Jhansi in India. He was born in Floriana Malta on 17 March 1892. He studied at St Aloysius College in Birkirkara. At the age of 19 he join ...

(1892–1969), Maltese prelate who became a bishop in India *

Georges Fenech Georges Vincent Antoine Fenech (; born 26 October 1954) is a French former magistrate and politician. A member of The Republicans (LR), he represented the 11th constituency of the Rhône department in the National Assembly from 2002 to 2008 a ...

(born 1954), French politician *

Jeff Fenech Jeff Fenech (born 28 May 1964) is an Australians, Australian former professional boxer who competed between 1984 and 2008. He List of boxing triple champions, won world titles in three weight divisions, having held the International Boxing Feder ...

(born 1964), Maltese-Australian boxer *

Mario Fenech Mario Fenech (nicknamed "The Maltese Falcon", “Falcon”, or "Muzza"; born 11 November 1961) is a Maltese Australian rugby league personality. He is a former player of the game who had a lengthy career in the New South Wales/Australian Rugb ...

(born 1961), Maltese-Australian rugby player *

Paul Fenech Paul Fenech (born 21 November 1972) is an Australian filmmaker, film and television actor, director, producer and writer. He is best known for writing, directing, producing and starring in the television series ''Pizza'', '' Swift and Shift Co ...

(born 1972), Maltese-Australian comedian *

Paul Fenech (footballer) Paul Fenech (born 20 December 1986) is a Maltese footballer who plays for Maltese Challenge League side Swieqi United, where he plays as a midfielder. Playing career Fenech is a Naxxar Lions product, then moved on to play for Msida Saint-Jo ...

(born 1986), Maltese footballer *

Ryan Fenech Ryan Fenech (born 20 April 1986) is a Maltese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Playing career Ħamrun Spartans Ryan Fenech joined Ħamrun Spartans as a trainee, and made his debut for the club during the 2002–03 s ...

(born 1986), Maltese footballer *

Tonio Fenech Tonio Fenech (born 5 May 1969) is a Maltese politician who served in the government of Malta as Minister of Finance, Economy and Investment from March 2008 to March 2013,Yorgen Fenech Yorgen Fenech (born 23 November 1981) is a Maltese businessman whose main interests are casinos and hotels in Malta, and a suspect facing criminal charges in multiple proceedings for murder, corruption, money laundering, and the illicit purchas ...

(born 1981), Maltese businessman

References

{{surname Maltese-language surnames

"Phoenician" variation

"Fenwick" variation

Notable people

See also

References