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

Forth, 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 Forth surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Forth in America

Forth is the 17104th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Forth surname appeared 1,659 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Forth.

We can also compare 2010 data for Forth 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 Forth

The surname FORTH is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "ford," which referred to a shallow place in a river or stream where it could be crossed. This suggests that the name may have originally been given to someone who lived near a ford or river crossing.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname FORTH can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Forde" in this historical document, reflecting the Old English spelling.

In the 13th century, the surname is recorded as "Forth" in various historical records, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire and Berkshire. This spelling variation likely emerged due to the influence of the Middle English pronunciation of the word "ford."

During the medieval period, the surname FORTH was particularly prevalent in the counties of Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Wiltshire, suggesting that the name may have originated in these regions of southern England.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname FORTH was John Forth (c. 1610-1685), an English Puritan minister and author. He served as the rector of Ingrave in Essex and wrote several theological works, including "The Doubting Christian Resolved" and "The Vade Mecum for the Learned and Unlearned."

Another individual of note was William Forth (1679-1748), an English mathematician and astronomer. He held the position of Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy at the University of Cambridge and made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

In the 19th century, Richard Forth (1808-1891) was a prominent English architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas. His most notable designs include St. Peter's Church in Eaton Square and the Marylebone Vestry Hall.

George Forth (1839-1901) was a Scottish landscape painter and etcher who gained recognition for his depictions of rural scenes and landscapes in Scotland and England. His works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and other prestigious galleries during his lifetime.

The surname FORTH has also been associated with places such as Ford in Buckinghamshire, originally recorded as "Forde" in the Domesday Book, and Fordwich in Kent, derived from the Old English "Ford-wic" meaning "ford village." These place names further reinforce the connection between the surname and its geographical origins near river crossings or fords.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Forth

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

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

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

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