Foreman
An occupational surname denoting a person who supervises workers, particularly in construction or manufacturing.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 33,247 Americans carry the last name Foreman. That puts it at #1,234 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 9.70 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 10,309 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Foreman surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
33K
1 in 10,309
Census rank
#1,234
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
9.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
29K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 28,605 bearers of the surname Foreman in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 9.70 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1234th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Foreman, the largest self-reported group is White at 65.8%. The next largest groups are Black (27.1%) and Hispanic (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Foreman
The surname Foreman is of English origin, derived from the occupational term "foreman," which referred to an overseer or supervisor of work, particularly in the agricultural or forestry sectors. The name can be traced back to the Middle English period, around the 13th to 15th centuries.
The name is thought to have originated in the central and southern regions of England, where agriculture and forestry were significant industries. Its earliest recorded instances can be found in various historical records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists individuals with the surname Foreman or variants like Forman.
One of the earliest known references to the name Foreman is in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named Radulfus Foreman in Oxfordshire. This suggests that the surname was already in use before the Norman Conquest of 1066.
In the 14th century, the surname Foreman appeared in various spellings, such as Forman, Formane, and Foremon, reflecting the evolution of the English language and regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.
Notable individuals with the surname Foreman throughout history include:
1. Sir John Foreman (c. 1438-1518), a British merchant and diplomat who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1501.
2. Simon Foreman (1552-1611), an English astrologer and occultist who gained notoriety during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
3. Richard Foreman (c. 1610-1678), an English philosopher and physician who wrote extensively on medical ethics and the history of medicine.
4. John Foreman (1817-1879), an Irish-born American architect and engineer best known for his work on the Brooklyn Bridge.
5. George Foreman (born 1949), a legendary American professional boxer and former two-time heavyweight champion, known for his resilience and his iconic grill product line.
The surname Foreman has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Foreman's Green in Sussex and Foreman's Farm in Hampshire, further reflecting its historical roots and geographical spread across the country.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Foreman
Among Census respondents with the surname Foreman, the largest self-reported group is White at 65.8%. The next largest groups are Black (27.1%) and Hispanic (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Foreman bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Foreman surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White65.8%
- Black or African American27.1%
- Hispanic or Latino2.5%
- Two or more races2.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Foreman surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,234 | #1,234 | 0.0% |
| Count | 28,605 | 28,605 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 9.70 | 9.70 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Foreman bearers went from 28,605 to 28,605 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #1,234 to #1,234.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Foreman
FAQ
Foreman surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Foreman?
The surname Foreman holds position #1,234 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 33,247 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 9.70 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Foreman surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Foreman, the largest self-reported group is White at 65.8%. The next largest groups are Black (27.1%) and Hispanic (2.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.