Find out how popular the last name Fomby is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Fomby.

Fomby, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Fomby surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fomby in America

Fomby is the 22158th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fomby surname appeared 1,166 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Fomby.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fomby to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Fomby

The surname Fomby is believed to have originated from the Scandinavian region, particularly from Norway. It is thought to have derived from the Old Norse words "forn" meaning "ancient" and "by" meaning "village" or "settlement." This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived in an ancient village or settlement.

During the Viking age, many Norwegians ventured across the seas and established settlements in various parts of Europe. It is possible that the name Fomby was carried by these Norse settlers to the British Isles or other regions where they settled.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fomby can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that the name had already established a presence in England by the late 11th century.

In the 12th century, a prominent figure named Thorvald Fomby was mentioned in the Icelandic sagas as a skilled navigator and explorer. He is believed to have participated in voyages to Greenland and the North American coast.

During the 13th century, a nobleman named Ragnvald Fomby was recorded as a landowner in the county of Yorkshire, England. His descendants continued to hold influence in the region for several generations.

In the late 15th century, a merchant named Ingrid Fomby was known for her successful trading ventures between Norway and the Hanseatic cities of northern Germany. She played a significant role in establishing trade routes and fostering economic ties between the regions.

In the 17th century, a Scottish soldier named Angus Fomby fought in the Battle of Killiecrankie during the Jacobite Rising of 1689. His bravery and leadership on the battlefield were documented in historical accounts of the conflict.

Throughout history, variations of the name have been recorded, such as Fombey, Fombie, and Fombye. Some of these variations may have been influenced by local dialects or regional spellings.

While the surname Fomby is not among the most common names today, it carries a rich history and a connection to the ancient Norse settlements and their influence across various regions of Europe.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fomby

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Fomby.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Fomby was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Fomby has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Fomby was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Fomby, please contact us.

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