In the case of the name Fanning there seems to be more corruption in later than in earlier records. The present form, ending in -ing, seems to have become established in the sixteenth century. Then and subsequently we find the forms, Fanyng, Fannyng, Fannynge, Fanynge, Faning, Fanyin, Fannying, Fannyn, Fanninge, Fannen, Fanan, Fannin and Fannon.
According to Matheson, Varieties and Synonyms of Surnames and Christian names in Ireland, Dublin, 1890, the forms Fenning and Finning also occur in recent times. There appears to be no ancient record, however, in which the first vowel in anything but "a".