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

Force, 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 Force surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Force in America

Force is the 8067th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Force surname appeared 4,108 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Force.

We can also compare 2010 data for Force 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 Force

The surname Force has its origins in medieval France, where it first emerged in the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "force," meaning strength or power. This name likely referred to someone who was physically strong or had a forceful personality.

The earliest recorded instances of the Force surname can be found in various medieval documents from northern France, particularly in the regions of Normandy and Picardy. One of the earliest known bearers of this name was Renaud Force, who was mentioned in a charter from the town of Rouen in 1195.

During the Middle Ages, the Force name appeared in several historical records and manuscripts, including the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name is listed as "Forz" in this document, which suggests that the spelling may have varied in different regions.

As the name spread throughout Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Fors, Fosse, and Fortz. Some of these variations may have been influenced by local dialects or scribal errors in transcribing the name.

One notable individual with the Force surname was Jean de Force, a French military commander who fought in the Hundred Years' War against the English in the 14th century. He participated in several important battles, including the Battle of Poitiers in 1356.

Another prominent figure was Arnaud de Force, a French nobleman and landowner who lived in the 15th century. He was known for his involvement in local politics and his influential role in the governance of his region.

In England, the Force surname can be traced back to the Norman Conquest in 1066, when many French and Norman settlers accompanied William the Conqueror. One of the earliest English bearers of this name was Robert Force, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1195.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Force name gained prominence in various parts of Europe, including France, England, and the Netherlands. One notable individual from this period was Pieter de Force, a Dutch artist and engraver born in 1590, known for his intricate etchings and illustrations.

As the centuries passed, the Force surname continued to spread throughout Europe and beyond, with bearers of this name making significant contributions in various fields, such as military, politics, arts, and literature.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Force

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

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 Force 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 Force 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 Force was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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