Fish (surname)

Fish is a surname of English origin, derived from the Middle English word "fisch," meaning "fish." It was likely an occupational name for a fisherman or fishmonger. It could also have been a nickname for someone who resembled a fish in some way.

The surname is found primarily in England, but due to emigration, it can also be found in other parts of the world, particularly in North America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Notable people with the surname Fish include:

• Albert Fish (1870–1936), American serial killer
• Brandon Fish (born 1980), American soccer player
• Edwin H. Fish (1870-1947), American mechanical engineer and author.
• Hamilton Fish (1808–1893), American politician who served as a U.S. Senator, Governor of New York, and U.S. Secretary of State
• Mardy Fish (born 1981), American tennis player
• Robert Fish (1912–1981), American crime fiction writer, known under the pseudonym Robert L. Pike.

Variants of the name include Fisshe, Fyshe, and Fishman (although Fishman can also be of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, independently derived).

The surname Fish has been recorded in various historical documents, including census records, parish registers, and wills. The distribution of the surname varies across different regions and time periods.