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

Forshey, 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 Forshey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Forshey in America

Forshey is the 23251st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Forshey surname appeared 1,096 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 Forshey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Forshey 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 Forshey

The surname Forshey is believed to have originated in Germany, where it is thought to have derived from the German word "forst," meaning forest or woods. The name likely emerged as a topographic name for someone who lived near or worked in a forested area.

During the Middle Ages, surnames began to be adopted across Europe as a way to distinguish individuals and families. The earliest known record of the name Forshey dates back to the 13th century in the region of Bavaria, where it was spelled "Forscher" or "Forschner."

As the name spread throughout German-speaking regions, various spellings emerged, including Forshey, Forshay, and Forsche. These variations likely resulted from differences in local dialects and the interpretation of scribes who recorded the name.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Johann Forschner, a woodsman who lived in the village of Oberammergau in the late 15th century. Records indicate that he and his family played a significant role in the local community and were involved in the production of the famous Oberammergau Passion Play.

In the 16th century, the name Forshey began to appear in historical records in other parts of Germany, including the regions of Saxony and Hesse. One notable figure from this time was Hans Forschner, a renowned blacksmith from the town of Erfurt, who was known for his skilled craftsmanship and innovative techniques.

As the name spread beyond Germany, it took on different forms in other languages. In the Netherlands, for example, it became "Verschuir," while in France it was sometimes written as "Forchier."

Throughout the centuries, the Forshey surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artisans, merchants, and scholars. Some notable bearers of the name include:

1. Michael Forshey (1789-1865), an American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate in the early 19th century.

2. John Forshey (1826-1900), an American civil engineer and inventor who contributed to the development of early railroads and held several patents for railway-related technologies.

3. Caleb Forshey (1818-1881), an American Baptist minister and educator who served as the first president of Central University in Iowa (now Central College).

4. Johann Forschner (1570-1632), a German composer and organist who worked in the court of the Elector of Saxony and contributed to the development of early Baroque music.

5. Wilhelm Forshey (1858-1924), a German-born American artist and illustrator known for his paintings depicting scenes from the American Old West.

While the Forshey surname may have evolved over time and spread across different regions, its origins can be traced back to the forested landscapes of medieval Germany, where it likely first emerged as a descriptive name for those who lived or worked among the trees.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Forshey

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

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

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

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