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

Fortney, 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 Fortney surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fortney in America

Fortney is the 6914th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fortney surname appeared 4,853 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Fortney.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fortney 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 Fortney

The surname Fortney is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, specifically in the region of Lancashire. It is derived from the Old English words "fort" and "ney," which together mean "near the fort" or "near the stronghold."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Fortney name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Fortenai." This entry suggests that the name was likely associated with a specific location or estate near a fortified structure.

In the 13th century, variations of the name, such as "Forteneye" and "Fortenay," began to appear in various historical records, reflecting the evolving spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

One notable individual bearing the Fortney name was Sir John Fortney, who lived in the late 14th century and served as a knight in the service of King Richard II. Records indicate that Sir John Fortney participated in military campaigns and held lands in Lancashire.

During the 16th century, the Fortney family established itself in the town of Eccleston, Lancashire, where they owned properties and held influential positions within the local community. Thomas Fortney, born in 1542, was a prominent figure in Eccleston and served as a magistrate and landowner.

In the 17th century, the Fortney surname spread beyond Lancashire, with members of the family settling in other parts of England. William Fortney, born in 1621, was a merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol, where he played a significant role in the local economy and governance.

As the Fortney name continued to disperse throughout England, it also found its way to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to the American colonies. One notable figure was Robert Fortney, born in 1745 in Scotland, who later immigrated to Virginia and fought in the American Revolutionary War.

Another significant individual bearing the Fortney surname was Mary Fortney, born in 1789 in Ireland. She immigrated to the United States in the early 19th century and became a prominent figure in the abolitionist movement, advocating for the abolition of slavery.

Throughout its long history, the Fortney surname has been associated with various occupations, including landowners, merchants, soldiers, and public servants, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences of those who have carried this name over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fortney

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

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

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

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