# Fenech

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**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](/source/Maltese_language).[1] This in turn comes from the [Arabic](/source/Arabic) word for fox, فنك (*fanak*, "[fennec fox](/source/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](/source/Siculo-Arabic) dialect. The word is also thought to be a respelling of *Fenich*, the [German](/source/German_language) for [millet](/source/Millet) farmer.[2] A possible [Persian](/source/Persian_language) derivation of the word has also been suggested.[3]

## "Phoenician" variation

Another variation is formed from the word *[Phoenicians](/source/Phoenicia)*. 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](/source/Anglo-Saxon) one where it is derived from a family living in *Fenwick*, which was in [Northumberland](/source/Northumberland) and the [West Riding of Yorkshire](/source/West_Riding_of_Yorkshire). This name was originally derived from the English *[fenn](/source/Fen)* which means "marsh" and *[wic](/source/-wich_town)*, which means "a farm". The surname [Fenwick](/source/Fenwick_(surname)) is still widely found in northern England and has spread through most English-speaking countries.

## Notable people

- [Beppe Fenech Adami](/source/Beppe_Fenech_Adami), Maltese politician
- [Chantal Bondin](/source/Chantal_Bondin), [née](/source/N%C3%A9e) **Fenech** (born 1980), Maltese footballer
- [David Fenech](/source/David_Fenech) (born 1969), French musician
- [Eddie Fenech Adami](/source/Eddie_Fenech_Adami) (born 1934), Prime Minister of Malta
- [Edwige Fenech](/source/Edwige_Fenech) (born 1948), Maltese-Italian actress and producer
- [Francis Fenech](/source/Francis_Fenech) (1892–1969), Maltese prelate who became a bishop in India
- [Georges Fenech](/source/Georges_Fenech) (born 1954), French politician
- [Jeff Fenech](/source/Jeff_Fenech) (born 1964), Maltese-Australian boxer
- [Louis E. Fenech](/source/Louis_E._Fenech), scholar of Punjabi and Sikh studies
- [Mario Fenech](/source/Mario_Fenech) (born 1961), Maltese-Australian rugby player
- [Paul Fenech](/source/Paul_Fenech) (born 1972), Maltese-Australian comedian
- [Paul Fenech (footballer)](/source/Paul_Fenech_(footballer)) (born 1986), Maltese footballer
- [Ryan Fenech](/source/Ryan_Fenech) (born 1986), Maltese footballer
- [Tonio Fenech](/source/Tonio_Fenech) (born 1969), Finance Minister of Malta
- [Yorgen Fenech](/source/Yorgen_Fenech) (born 1981), Maltese businessman

## See also

- [Fenech (disambiguation)](/source/Fenech_(disambiguation))

## References

1. Karagoz, Claudia & Summerfield, Giovanna (2015-08-12). [*Sicily and the Mediterranean: Migration, Exchange, Reinvention*](https://books.google.com/books?id=HbShCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT92). Springer. ISBN 9781137486936.

1. Hanks, Patrick (2006). *American Family Name Origins. Dictionary of American Family Names*

1. Aquilina, Ġużè (1976). [*Maltese Linguistic Surveys*](https://books.google.com/books?id=eO8NAAAAYAAJ&q=fenech+persian). University of Malta. p. 193.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Fenech](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenech) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenech?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.