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

Phorn, 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 Phorn surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Phorn in America

Phorn is the 128249th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Phorn surname appeared 133 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 Phorn.

We can also compare 2010 data for Phorn 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 Phorn

The surname PHORN is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "porn," which referred to a small stream or brook, particularly one that was shallow and easily forded. This suggests that the name may have originally been derived from a topographic feature, indicating that the earliest bearers of this surname lived near or were associated with such a water source.

One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a remarkable survey of landowners and their holdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Radulfus de Porne, whose name is thought to be an early spelling variation of the modern PHORN.

During the 13th century, the surname appeared in various historical records, often associated with places or regions where the name was prevalent. For instance, a Robert de Phorn was mentioned in the Curia Regis Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1219, indicating that the name had spread to different parts of England.

In the 14th century, the surname PHORN was further documented in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, where a John Phorn was listed as a taxpayer in 1327. This record suggests that the name had become established in the West Midlands region of England by that time.

One notable individual bearing the PHORN surname was Sir John Phorn, a prominent landowner and knight who lived during the late 14th century. He was mentioned in the Feet of Fines records of Gloucestershire in 1391, indicating his involvement in land transactions and legal matters of the time.

In the 16th century, the surname PHORN appeared in various parish records and manorial documents. For example, a William Phorn was recorded as a witness to a land conveyance in the borough of Kidderminster, Worcestershire, in 1567.

Another historically significant figure was Richard Phorn, a merchant and alderman who lived in the city of Bristol during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was mentioned in the city's records as a prominent member of the local guild and held influential positions within the civic administration.

As the centuries progressed, the PHORN surname continued to be documented in various historical sources, including parish registers, tax records, and legal documents, indicating its enduring presence throughout England's history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Phorn

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

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

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

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