Fenech is a surname about whose origins there are several hypotheses. The most notable is the meaning of "rabbit", since fenek is rabbit in Maltese.[1] This in turn comes from the Arabic word for fox, فنك (fanak, "fennec fox") 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 dialect. The word is also thought to be a respelling of Fenich, the German for millet farmer.[2] A possible Persian derivation of the word has also been suggested.[3]
 Coat of arms of the Fenech family | |
| Pronunciation | Maltese: [ˈfɛnɛk] |
|---|---|
| Language(s) | Maltese |
| Origin | |
| Language(s) | Arabic |
| Derivation | fanak |
| Meaning | "fox" |
"Phoenician" variation
editAnother variation is formed from the word Phoenicians. In fact, some bearers of this surname use the horse, a Phoenician symbol, on their crest rather than the rabbit.
"Fenwick" variation
editAnother variation is an Anglo-Saxon one where it is derived from a family living in Fenwick, which was in Northumberland and the West Riding of Yorkshire. This name was originally derived from the English fenn which means "marsh" and wic, which means "a farm". The surname Fenwick is still widely found in northern England and has spread through most English-speaking countries.
Notable people
edit- Beppe Fenech Adami, Maltese politician
- Chantal Bondin, née Fenech (born 1980), Maltese footballer
- David Fenech (born 1969), French musician
- Eddie Fenech Adami (born 1934), Prime Minister of Malta
- Edwige Fenech (born 1948), Maltese-Italian actress and producer
- Francis Fenech (1892–1969), Maltese prelate who became a bishop in India
- Georges Fenech (born 1954), French politician
- Jeff Fenech (born 1964), Maltese-Australian boxer
- Mario Fenech (born 1961), Maltese-Australian rugby player
- Paul Fenech (born 1972), Maltese-Australian comedian
- Paul Fenech (footballer) (born 1986), Maltese footballer
- Ryan Fenech (born 1986), Maltese footballer
- Tonio Fenech (born 1969), Finance Minister of Malta
- Yorgen Fenech (born 1981), Maltese businessman
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Karagoz, Claudia; Summerfield, Giovanna (2015-08-12). Sicily and the Mediterranean: Migration, Exchange, Reinvention. Springer. ISBN 9781137486936.
- ^ Hanks, Patrick (2006). American Family Name Origins. Dictionary of American Family Names.
- ^ Aquilina, Ġużè (1976). Maltese Linguistic Surveys. University of Malta. p. 193.
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