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

Fortis, 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 Fortis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fortis in America

Fortis is the 79338th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fortis surname appeared 240 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 Fortis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fortis 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 Fortis

The surname FORTIS is believed to have originated in Italy, with roots dating back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Latin word "fortis," meaning strong or brave. The name was likely given to individuals who exhibited these qualities or who had a reputation for strength and courage.

In medieval Italy, surnames were often derived from personal characteristics, occupations, or geographic locations. The surname FORTIS may have been initially adopted by a family residing in or near a fortified town or castle, reflecting their association with a place of strength and protection.

One of the earliest documented references to the surname FORTIS can be found in the records of the Republic of Venice, where a merchant named Giovanni FORTIS is mentioned in a trade document dated 1284. This suggests that the name was already established in the Venetian region during the 13th century.

In the 14th century, the name FORTIS appears in a manuscript from the city of Florence, where a nobleman named Niccolò FORTIS is recorded as a member of the local nobility. This provides evidence of the name's presence in Tuscany during the Renaissance period.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname FORTIS. One such figure was Giovanni Battista FORTIS (1741-1803), an Italian naturalist and cartographer who made significant contributions to the study of geology and geography in the Adriatic region.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Luigi FORTIS (1748-1823), an Italian composer and violinist who was highly regarded during the Classical period. His works for violin and orchestra were widely performed throughout Europe.

In the 19th century, Giacomo FORTIS (1820-1895) was an Italian politician and statesman who served as the Minister of Justice and later as the Prime Minister of Italy from 1888 to 1891.

The name FORTIS also gained recognition in the literary world with the Italian writer and journalist Antonio FORTIS (1867-1943), known for his novels and short stories depicting the lives of working-class Italians.

During the 20th century, Umberto FORTIS (1912-1994) was a prominent Italian journalist and war correspondent who covered major events such as World War II and the Vietnam War for Italian newspapers and magazines.

While the surname FORTIS has its roots in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval era, where it reflected strength, courage, and a connection to fortified locations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fortis

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

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

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

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