Fakenham is a market community and civil parish in Norfolk, England. It is located on the River Wensum, around 19 miles (31 kilometres) north east of King's Lynn, 19 miles (31 kilometres) southern west of Cromer, as well as 25 miles (40 kilometres) north west of Norwich. The civil parish has an area of 3.49 sq mi (9.0 km2) and in the 2001 census had a population of 7,357 in 3,292 homes, the population enhancing to 7,617 at the 2011 census. For the purposes of city government, the parish drops within the district of North Norfolk. The name Fakenham is Saxon, perhaps meaning Fair Place/Place on a Fair River, or Community (Ham) on the river (Ken) Fa/Fair (Fa).