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

Fortt, 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 Fortt surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fortt in America

Fortt is the 104156th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fortt surname appeared 172 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 Fortt.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fortt 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 Fortt

The surname Fortt is of English origin and is believed to have originated in the 12th or 13th century. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place name such as Fort, which comes from the Old English word "fort" meaning a fortified place or stronghold.

The earliest known record of the name Fortt is from the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1275, where it appears as "Fortt". This suggests that the name was already established in the region by this time.

Another early reference to the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where it is recorded as "Forte". This variation in spelling was common in medieval times, and it is likely that the name was sometimes written as Forte or Fort before the modern spelling of Fortt became standardized.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Fortt was John Fortt, who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1327. Similarly, a Thomas Fortt was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1332.

In the 15th century, the name appears in various records, including the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1443, where a William Fortt is mentioned. Another notable individual was Richard Fortt, whose name is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1497.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, several individuals with the surname Fortt gained recognition. For instance, Edward Fortt (c. 1550-1610) was an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Tredington in Worcestershire. Additionally, John Fortt (1570-1637) was a prominent lawyer and Member of Parliament who represented Taunton in Somerset.

The surname Fortt has also been associated with various places and locations throughout history. For example, there is a village called Fort in Shropshire, which may have contributed to the development of the surname in that region. Additionally, the name may be related to the town of Fort William in Scotland, although the connection is not entirely clear.

Overall, the surname Fortt has a rich history dating back to the medieval period in England. While its exact origins are uncertain, it is believed to be derived from a place name related to a fortified location or stronghold. The name has been recorded in various parts of England throughout the centuries, with several notable individuals bearing the surname in fields such as religion, law, and literature.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fortt

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

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

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

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