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

Forges, 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 Forges surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Forges in America

Forges is the 93513th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Forges surname appeared 196 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 Forges.

We can also compare 2010 data for Forges 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 Forges

The surname Forges originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "forge," which referred to a blacksmith's workshop or a place where metals were hammered and shaped. This name was likely given to someone who worked as a blacksmith or lived near a forge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Forges can be found in the Domesday Book, a manuscript record of landholders in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The name appears as "de la Forge," indicating a person who lived near or was associated with a forge.

In the 13th century, a branch of the Forges family settled in the village of Forges-les-Eaux in Normandy, France. This place name likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

During the Middle Ages, the Forges family played a significant role in the development of metalworking techniques and the production of weapons and armor. Notable members include Pierre de Forges (1225-1288), a renowned swordsmith who supplied swords to the French nobility.

In the 16th century, Jean Forges (1498-1572) was a prominent French metalworker and sculptor. He is best known for his intricate iron grillwork designs that adorned many churches and cathedrals in France.

Another notable figure was Guillaume Forges (1701-1770), a French engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of early steam engines and hydraulic machinery.

During the French Revolution, the Forges family was involved in the production of weapons and ammunition for the revolutionary forces. One member, Louis Forges (1756-1824), was a prominent gunsmith who supplied muskets and cannons to the revolutionary army.

In the 19th century, the Forges name was associated with the rise of the French steel industry. Auguste Forges (1815-1892) was a pioneering industrialist who established one of the first large-scale steel mills in France, which played a crucial role in the country's industrial development.

Throughout history, the surname Forges has been associated with metalworking, engineering, and innovation, reflecting the origins of this name and the influential role that members of this family have played in these fields over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Forges

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

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

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

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