Anning

Anning is a British surname that originated in the West Country of England. The name is of Old English origin, derived from the personal name Anna, meaning "grace" or "favour".

History

The Anning surname is most commonly associated with Mary Anning (1799–1847), a famous English fossil collector, dealer, and paleontologist. Mary Anning made significant contributions to the field of paleontology, particularly in the early 19th century. She discovered the first complete Ichthyosaurus skeleton in 1811 at the age of 12, and later unearthed a complete Plesiosaurus, among other important finds.

Distribution

The surname Anning is relatively rare and is found predominantly in the West Country of England, particularly in the counties of Dorset and Somerset. Over time, some bearers of the surname may have migrated to other parts of the UK and beyond, leading to a scattered distribution of the name.

Legacy

Due to the pioneering work of Mary Anning in the field of paleontology, the surname Anning has become synonymous with groundbreaking discoveries in natural history. Mary Anning's legacy as a self-taught scientist and fossil hunter has inspired generations of paleontologists and remains a significant part of British scientific history.

There are approximately 937 people named Anning in the UK. That makes it roughly the 7,746th most common surname in Britain. Around 14 in a million people in Britain are named Anning.

Surname type: Location or geographical feature

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

  • Christopher
  • David
  • John
  • Mark
  • Michael
  • Paul
  • Peter
  • Richard
  • Simon
  • Stephen

Female

  • Amy
  • Barbara
  • Charlotte
  • Elizabeth
  • Gail
  • Helen
  • Janet
  • Jocelyn
  • Lucy
  • Margaret
  • Patricia
  • Pauline
  • Rachel
  • Susan

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

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