NameCensus.

UK surname

Desforges

A French surname derived from "forge," referring to someone living near or associated with a forge.

In the 1881 census there were 165 people recorded with the Desforges surname, ranking it #14,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 318, ranked #14,159, up from #14,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lincoln St Botolph, Hull Holy Trinity and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lincoln, Kingston upon Hull and West Lindsey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Desforges is 365 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 92.7%.

1881 census count

165

Ranked #14,559

Modern count

318

2016, ranked #14,159

Peak year

1999

365 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Desforges had 165 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 318 in 2016, ranked #14,159.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 220 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Desforges surname distribution map

The map shows where the Desforges surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Desforges surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Desforges over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 143 #13,343
1861 historical 118 #18,512
1881 historical 165 #14,559
1891 historical 156 #17,842
1901 historical 168 #16,886
1911 historical 220 #14,088
1997 modern 338 #12,489
1998 modern 359 #12,321
1999 modern 365 #12,245
2000 modern 349 #12,585
2001 modern 334 #12,789
2002 modern 351 #12,583
2003 modern 320 #13,239
2004 modern 313 #13,502
2005 modern 315 #13,375
2006 modern 314 #13,474
2007 modern 317 #13,532
2008 modern 306 #13,943
2009 modern 317 #13,899
2010 modern 318 #14,136
2011 modern 312 #14,230
2012 modern 312 #14,131
2013 modern 324 #13,961
2014 modern 329 #13,918
2015 modern 324 #13,965
2016 modern 318 #14,159

Geography

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Where Desforges' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lincoln St Botolph, Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes, Charton-next-Woolwich and Spilsby, West Keal, Stickford, Lusby (incl. Lusby allotments). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lincoln, Kingston upon Hull, West Lindsey and Bromley. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 Charton-next-Woolwich London (South Districts)
5 Spilsby, West Keal, Stickford, Lusby (incl. Lusby allotments) Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lincoln 004 Lincoln
2 Kingston upon Hull 002 Kingston upon Hull, City of
3 West Lindsey 011 West Lindsey
4 Bromley 033 Bromley
5 Lincoln 001 Lincoln

Forenames

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First names often paired with Desforges

These lists show first names that appear often with the Desforges surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Desforges

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Desforges, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Desforges surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Desforges household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Desforges is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Desforges is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Desforges falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Desforges is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Desforges, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Desforges

The surname Desforges originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French words "des" meaning "from" and "forge" meaning "forge" or "blacksmith's workshop." The name likely referred to someone who lived near or worked in a forge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Desforges can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "de Forgia," which was the Latin form of the name.

During the 12th and 13th centuries, the name Desforges began to appear in various records and documents across France. For example, in 1235, a man named Renaud Desforges was mentioned in a charter from the Champagne region of France.

In the 14th century, the name Desforges was found in association with several place names in France, such as La Forge, Forges-les-Eaux, and Forges-sur-Meuse. These place names likely reflected the areas where Desforges families lived or worked as blacksmiths.

One notable individual with the surname Desforges was Philippe Desforges, a French dramatist and playwright who lived from 1736 to 1806. He is best known for his comedies, including "Le Sourd, ou l'Auberge Pleine" (The Deaf Man, or The Crowded Inn).

Another famous bearer of the Desforges name was Théodore Desforges, a French journalist and writer who lived from 1805 to 1873. He is remembered for his satirical works and his involvement in the French Revolution of 1848.

In the 19th century, a notable figure with the Desforges surname was Ernest Desforges, a French painter who lived from 1835 to 1906. He was known for his landscapes and scenes of rural life in France.

Additionally, there was a French author named Régine Desforges who lived from 1920 to 1997. She wrote several novels and short stories, including "La Bicyclette Bleue" (The Blue Bicycle), which was a bestseller in France.

Finally, a more recent individual with the Desforges surname was Jacques Desforges, a French actor and director who lived from 1935 to 2022. He appeared in numerous films and TV shows throughout his career.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Desforges families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Desforges surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lincolnshire leads with 78 Desforges' recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.68x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 78 41.68x
Kent 9 2.25x
Middlesex 8 0.68x
Yorkshire 8 0.69x
Norfolk 6 3.33x
Surrey 4 0.70x
Essex 2 0.87x
Huntingdonshire 2 8.61x
Lancashire 2 0.14x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.63x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Keal in Lincolnshire leads with 11 Desforges' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6875.00x.

Place Total Index
East Keal 11 6875.00x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 10 380.23x
Charlton Next Woolwich 9 216.35x
Boston 6 105.63x
Langley 6 5000.00x
Staines 6 324.32x
Benniworth 5 3333.33x
Stickney 5 1785.71x
Louth 4 93.24x
Streatham 4 46.08x
Tumby 4 2857.14x
Wispington 4 10000.00x
North Somercotes 3 612.24x
Skirbeck 3 285.71x
Walesby 3 2307.69x
West Fen 3 2307.69x
Blackburn 2 5.41x
Bromley London 2 7.77x
Great Grimsby 2 16.84x
Holywell Cum Needingworth 2 689.66x
Manningham 2 14.00x
South Reston 2 2000.00x
St Mary 2 256.41x
Toynton All Sts 2 1428.57x
Wath On Dearne 2 86.58x
West Ham 2 3.92x
Aby 1 714.29x
Averham 1 1428.57x
Fotherby 1 1000.00x
Horncastle 1 51.81x
Kettlewell With 1 666.67x
Leeds 1 1.53x
Middle Rasen 1 277.78x
New Sleaford 1 83.33x
Quarrington 1 666.67x
South Willingham 1 769.23x
Spalding 1 26.95x
St Swithin Lincoln 1 34.01x
Thorganby 1 1666.67x
Willoughby 1 400.00x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Desforges surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 9
Eliza 8
Ann 4
Annie 4
Elizabeth 4
Sarah 4
Lucy 3
Emma 2
Harriet 2
Alice 1
Anne 1
Betsy 1
C. 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Christina 1
Emily 1
Emmel 1
Esther 1
Flora 1
H. 1
Hannah 1
Iley 1
Jane 1
L.A. 1
M. 1
Matilda 1
Nisida 1
Rebecca 1
Rosamond 1
Ruth 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Desforges surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 12
Thomas 8
Samuel 6
Joseph 4
Edwin 3
William 3
George 2
Herbert 2
Richard 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Bransby 1
Charles 1
Clem 1
Edmond 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Fredrick 1
G. 1
Harry 1
J.C. 1
James 1
Thos. 1
Thos.Henry 1

FAQ

Desforges surname: questions and answers

How common was the Desforges surname in 1881?

In 1881, 165 people were recorded with the Desforges surname. That placed it at #14,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Desforges surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 318 in 2016. That gives Desforges a modern rank of #14,159.

What does the Desforges surname mean?

A French surname derived from "forge," referring to someone living near or associated with a forge.

What does the Desforges map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Desforges bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.