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

Forse, 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 Forse surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Forse in America

Forse is the 49636th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Forse surname appeared 423 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 Forse.

We can also compare 2010 data for Forse 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 Forse

The surname Forse originated in France, specifically in the region of Normandy during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "fors," meaning "outside" or "outside of." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived on the outskirts of a town or village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Forse name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that individuals bearing this name likely migrated from Normandy to England during or shortly after the Norman Conquest in 1066.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Robert Forse was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, which were records of financial transactions related to land ownership and taxation. This provides evidence of the name's presence in England during that period.

During the 14th century, the surname Forse appeared in various records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire and the Poll Tax Records of Yorkshire. This indicates the name's spread across different regions of England.

In the 16th century, a prominent individual named John Forse was born in Somerset, England, around 1520. He was a successful merchant and landowner, contributing to the local economy and leaving a lasting impact on the area.

Another notable figure was William Forse, born in Oxfordshire in 1645. He was a respected scholar and author, known for his work on English literature and history.

In the 18th century, a prominent clergyman named Richard Forse (1710-1785) served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Warwickshire. He was known for his contributions to theological writings and his influential sermons.

The name Forse also has variations in spelling, such as Forsse, Forsse, and Forsh, which can be found in historical records from various regions of England and France.

It's worth noting that the Forse surname has connections to several place names, including Forse in Normandy, France, and Forse in Somerset, England. These place names may have influenced the surname's origins and its subsequent spread across different regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Forse

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

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

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

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