NameCensus.

UK surname

Forge

Historically an occupational surname derived from those who worked at a forge or furnace.

In the 1881 census there were 273 people recorded with the Forge surname, ranking it #10,390 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 215, ranked #18,670, down from #10,390 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Barking and Grimsby, Great. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St Edmundsbury, Manchester and Peterborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Forge is 376 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 21.2%.

1881 census count

273

Ranked #10,390

Modern count

215

2016, ranked #18,670

Peak year

1911

376 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Forge had 273 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,390 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 215 in 2016, ranked #18,670.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 376 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Forge surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Forge surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Forge 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 229 #9,390
1861 historical 228 #10,703
1881 historical 273 #10,390
1891 historical 340 #10,062
1901 historical 337 #10,735
1911 historical 376 #9,736
1997 modern 224 #16,392
1998 modern 230 #16,607
1999 modern 220 #17,160
2000 modern 229 #16,695
2001 modern 225 #16,664
2002 modern 225 #16,994
2003 modern 219 #17,085
2004 modern 212 #17,540
2005 modern 210 #17,572
2006 modern 210 #17,718
2007 modern 211 #17,856
2008 modern 203 #18,470
2009 modern 207 #18,600
2010 modern 204 #19,200
2011 modern 197 #19,483
2012 modern 200 #19,207
2013 modern 201 #19,454
2014 modern 202 #19,575
2015 modern 207 #19,155
2016 modern 215 #18,670

Geography

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Where Forges are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Barking, Grimsby, Great, St John Hackney and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to St Edmundsbury, Manchester, Peterborough, North Norfolk and Southend-on-Sea. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Barking Essex
3 Grimsby, Great Lincolnshire
4 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St Edmundsbury 011 St Edmundsbury
2 Manchester 015 Manchester
3 Peterborough 018 Peterborough
4 North Norfolk 011 North Norfolk
5 Southend-on-Sea 009 Southend-on-Sea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Forge

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Forge

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Forge, 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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Forge is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Forge 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

Forge falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Forge 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Forge

The surname Forge is an English occupational name derived from the Old French word "forge", meaning a blacksmith's workshop or smithy. It likely originated in regions of England where French influence was strong, such as parts of southern England and East Anglia.

The earliest known record of the surname Forge dates back to the late 12th century, appearing in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1170. During this time, blacksmithing was a vital trade, and surnames derived from occupations were becoming increasingly common.

In the 13th century, the name was found in various forms, including Forge, Forges, and le Forge, indicating its French origins. The Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273 mention a "Gilbert le Forge", while the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296 record a "William Forge".

The surname Forge can also be traced back to place names in England, such as Forge Valley in North Yorkshire and Forge Mills in Shropshire. These locations likely derived their names from the presence of blacksmith forges or iron-working sites.

Notable individuals with the surname Forge throughout history include:

1. Thomas Forge (c. 1440 - c. 1520), an English priest and scholar who served as the Rector of Boxted in Essex. 2. John Forge (c. 1590 - 1660), an English clergyman and author who wrote "A Treatise on the Grounds and Reasons of Christian Regeneration". 3. Edward Forge (1765 - 1835), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and was awarded the Naval General Service Medal. 4. Charles Forge (1810 - 1876), a British artist and illustrator known for his depictions of rural life and landscapes. 5. Mary Forge (1886 - 1966), an American educator and social reformer who advocated for educational opportunities for underprivileged children in New York City.

While the surname Forge has its roots in occupational and geographical origins, it has since spread across various regions and cultures, reflecting the diverse histories and migrations of families over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Forge families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Forge 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. Middlesex leads with 86 Forges recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.29x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 86 3.29x
Yorkshire 58 2.24x
Essex 24 4.65x
Kent 21 2.35x
Suffolk 20 6.28x
Surrey 18 1.41x
Lincolnshire 17 4.07x
Lancashire 9 0.29x
Durham 6 0.77x
Warwickshire 3 0.46x
Cambridgeshire 2 1.21x
Berkshire 1 0.51x
Gloucestershire 1 0.20x
Oxfordshire 1 0.62x
Sussex 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 19 Forges recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.96x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 19 12.96x
Islington London 16 6.31x
Hundon 14 1772.15x
Bridlington 11 185.50x
Knockholt 9 1267.61x
Leven 9 1184.21x
Leyton Low 9 85.80x
Scarborough 9 38.23x
Twickenham 9 80.29x
Clee With Weelsby 8 87.43x
Minster In Sheppey 8 54.13x
Barking 7 46.36x
Kensington London 7 4.82x
Great Grimsby 6 22.62x
St Vedast Foster Lane 6 3750.00x
Tottenham 6 14.41x
Walton On Thames 6 102.56x
Bethnal Green London 5 4.40x
Lambeth 5 2.19x
Sunderland 5 36.42x
West Ham 5 4.39x
Worsley 5 26.15x
Dewsbury 4 15.05x
Haverhill 4 141.34x
Long Riston 4 1212.12x
Sherburn 4 187.79x
Bedworth 3 62.37x
Hampstead London 3 7.37x
Mile End Old Town London 3 5.39x
Ramsgate 3 20.60x
St Marylebone London 3 2.15x
Wanstead 3 33.19x
Wyham With Cadeby 3 2500.00x
Beverley St Mary 2 52.91x
Birkdale 2 25.48x
Camberwell 2 1.20x
Croydon 2 2.83x
Hulme 2 3.09x
Paull 2 408.16x
St Luke London 2 4.77x
St Pancras London 2 0.95x
Thames Ditton 2 75.47x
Wortley In Bramley 2 9.75x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 1 11.29x
Chatham 1 4.08x
Chelsea London 1 1.27x
Clifton 1 3.86x
Cowlinge 1 163.93x
Earley 1 30.58x
Great Driffield 1 18.80x
Hastings St Mary In The 1 10.64x
Holy Trinity St Mary 1 25.38x
Hornsea 1 60.98x
Hornsey 1 3.02x
Impington 1 277.78x
Leeds 1 0.68x
Lockngtn In Kilnwck 1 217.39x
North Frodingham 1 163.93x
Oxford St Ebbe 1 21.05x
Paddington London 1 1.04x
Pocklington 1 40.82x
Sculcoates 1 2.43x
Settrington 1 200.00x
Shipton In Pocklington 1 263.16x
South Shields 1 14.43x
St Clement Danes London 1 18.48x
St Stephen Coleman Street 1 108.70x
Stradishall 1 294.12x
Sutton 1 10.85x
Sutton 1 72.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Eliza 9
Elizabeth 8
Ann 5
Annie 5
Ellen 5
Fanny 5
Jane 5
Caroline 4
Clara 4
Edith 4
Emma 4
Kate 4
Louisa 4
Martha 3
Minnie 3
Alice 2
Charlott 2
Emily 2
Ethel 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Grace 2
Hannah 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Laura 2
Margeret 2
Rebecca 2
Sarah 2
Susan 2
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Amey 1
Amy 1
Beatrice 1
Chrissey 1
E.A. 1
Emilly 1
F.A. 1
Fanney 1
Lidia 1
Lilian 1
Lily 1
Louiza 1
Lousia 1
Lucy 1
M.J. 1
Mattilda 1
Wilhelmina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 21
William 16
Thomas 11
George 9
Charles 7
James 7
Richard 6
Walter 5
Henry 4
Arthur 3
Ernest 3
Fred 3
Robert 3
Alfred 2
David 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Percy 2
Sydney 2
Albert 1
Ceasar 1
Christopher 1
Claud 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
F.A.W.C. 1
Ferdinand 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Jeffery 1
Jeoffrey 1
Phorah 1
R.P. 1
Richd. 1
Roger 1
Sam 1
Sidney 1
Stanley 1

FAQ

Forge surname: questions and answers

How common was the Forge surname in 1881?

In 1881, 273 people were recorded with the Forge surname. That placed it at #10,390 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Forge surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 215 in 2016. That gives Forge a modern rank of #18,670.

What does the Forge surname mean?

Historically an occupational surname derived from those who worked at a forge or furnace.

What does the Forge map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Forge 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.