FISH
Fish is an English surname derived from the Middle English word fisch, the direct ancestor of the modern word fish. The name originally denoted a person involved in the fishing industry, whether by catching, selling or otherwise dealing with fish. It may also have been applied as a nickname to an individual who exhibited fish-like attributes or was otherwise closely associated with fish.
The etymology of Fish can be traced back to the Old English pre‑7th century term fisc, meaning a fish. The earliest recorded appearance of a personal name derived from this root occurs in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a man named Fisc is listed in Norfolk. The surname itself first emerged in the early 13th century and spread throughout the English counties.
Documentary evidence from the 13th and 14th centuries confirms the usage of the surname in a variety of contexts. In 1202 the Assize Court Rolls of Lincolnshire, during the reign of King John, record a witness named Ernis Fish. The following year the Calendar Rolls of Suffolk list Daniel Fisc (1208), and the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland in 1230 record a Robert Fisk. The use of the article le before the surname was common in the 14th century, as illustrated by the name Robert le Fissh of Somerset, recorded in 1327.
By the 17th century, the surname had reached a wider geographical spread. On 27 April 1635, Christopher Fish departed from London aboard the ship Ann and Elizabeth bound for Barbados, as documented in Hotten's Records. Such entries demonstrate the migration of individuals bearing the name and the continuity of the occupational indicator inherited from earlier generations.
Initially a metonymic occupational surname, Fish was conferred upon those whose livelihoods were directly linked with marine life. As is common with other job descriptive surnames in England, the designation was eventually inherited, passing from father to son irrespective of the subsequent occupation of the name‑bearers. Consequently, the modern Fish family name reflects a historical connection to the fishing profession rather than a current professional affiliation.
Typical given names associated with the Fish surname
Male
- Andrew
- Anthony
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Caroline
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Jane
- Joanne
- Julie
- Louise
- Margaret
- Mary
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Fish in...
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There are approximately 8,172 people named Fish in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,154th most common surname in Britain. Around 125 in a million people in Britain are named Fish.
Surname type: Nickname
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Fish
- Albert Fish - American serial killer and cannibal (1870 to 1936)
- Michael Fish - Weather forecaster
- Dan Fish - Welsh rugby union player
- Anne Harriet Fish - Cartoonist and illustrator (1890 to 1964)
- Matt Fish - Football player
- James Fish - Rugby union player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.