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

Fornes, 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 Fornes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fornes in America

Fornes is the 38948th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fornes surname appeared 566 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 Fornes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fornes 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 Fornes

The surname Fornes is of Spanish origin, derived from the Latin word "fornax," meaning "furnace" or "oven." It is believed to have originated during the medieval period in the region of Catalonia, where many families were involved in pottery-making or other professions that required the use of furnaces.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Fornes can be found in the "Llibre de Repartiment," a 13th-century Catalan document that recorded the distribution of lands and properties after the conquest of the Kingdom of Valencia. This document mentions several individuals with the name Fornes, indicating their presence in the region at that time.

In the 14th century, a notable figure with the surname Fornes was Ramon Fornes, a prominent Catalan merchant and diplomat who represented the Crown of Aragon in various negotiations with other kingdoms and city-states. He was born around 1325 and played a significant role in the economic and political affairs of his time.

During the 15th century, the name Fornes appeared in the records of the city of Barcelona, where several families with this surname were active in various trades and professions. One notable individual from this period was Joan Fornes, a renowned potter and ceramist who was highly regarded for his artistry and craftsmanship.

In the 16th century, the name Fornes gained prominence in the region of Valencia, where several members of the family held positions of importance in the local administration and society. One such individual was Miquel Fornes, who served as a magistrate and judge in the city of Valencia during the latter half of the century.

The 17th century saw the emergence of a prominent literary figure with the surname Fornes. Juan Fornes y Piquer, born in 1592, was a renowned Spanish playwright and poet who gained recognition for his works that explored themes of love, honor, and social commentary.

As the centuries passed, the Fornes surname spread to various parts of Spain and Latin America, with notable individuals emerging in various fields. For example, in the 20th century, Maria Irene Fornes, a Cuban-American playwright and director, gained significant recognition for her contributions to the American theater scene, particularly in the field of avant-garde and experimental theater.

Overall, the surname Fornes has a rich history spanning several centuries, with its origins rooted in the medieval period of the Iberian Peninsula. It has produced notable figures in various fields, including diplomacy, law, arts, and literature, contributing to the cultural heritage of Spain and the Spanish-speaking world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fornes

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

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

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

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