NameCensus.

UK surname

Forgham

In the 1881 census there were 99 people recorded with the Forgham surname, ranking it #19,877 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 125, ranked #26,827, down from #19,877 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dawley, Magna, Shrewsbury St Chad, Wroxeter, Atcham, Berrington and Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Taunton Deane, North Warwickshire and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Forgham is 171 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.3%.

1881 census count

99

Ranked #19,877

Modern count

125

2016, ranked #26,827

Peak year

1911

171 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Forgham had 99 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,877 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 125 in 2016, ranked #26,827.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 171 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Forgham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Forgham surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Forgham 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 57 #23,092
1861 historical 130 #17,164
1881 historical 99 #19,877
1891 historical 114 #22,006
1901 historical 145 #18,426
1911 historical 171 #16,461
1997 modern 149 #21,214
1998 modern 150 #21,665
1999 modern 152 #21,636
2000 modern 147 #22,081
2001 modern 148 #21,664
2002 modern 141 #22,794
2003 modern 148 #21,866
2004 modern 140 #22,793
2005 modern 134 #23,406
2006 modern 141 #22,833
2007 modern 139 #23,377
2008 modern 136 #24,004
2009 modern 132 #24,929
2010 modern 131 #25,656
2011 modern 129 #25,673
2012 modern 122 #26,696
2013 modern 134 #25,525
2014 modern 134 #25,711
2015 modern 127 #26,494
2016 modern 125 #26,827

Geography

Back to top

Where Forghams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dawley, Magna, Shrewsbury St Chad, Wroxeter, Atcham, Berrington, Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace, North Meols and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Taunton Deane, North Warwickshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, Uttlesford and Eastleigh. 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 Dawley, Magna Shropshire
2 Shrewsbury St Chad, Wroxeter, Atcham, Berrington Shropshire
3 Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace Shropshire
4 North Meols Lancashire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Taunton Deane 006 Taunton Deane
2 North Warwickshire 006 North Warwickshire
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 008 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Uttlesford 003 Uttlesford
5 Eastleigh 002 Eastleigh

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Forgham

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Forgham

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Forgham, 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 Forgham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Forgham 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Forgham 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

Forgham is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Forgham falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Forgham 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 Forgham, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Forgham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Forgham 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. Shropshire leads with 65 Forghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 77.92x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 65 77.92x
Staffordshire 21 6.44x
Leicestershire 6 5.60x
Cheshire 5 2.35x
Lancashire 2 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dawley in Shropshire leads with 17 Forghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 559.21x.

Place Total Index
Dawley 17 559.21x
Shrewsbury St Chad 11 375.43x
Harborne 7 66.99x
Wombridge 7 679.61x
Hugglescote 6 382.17x
Wednesbury 6 73.71x
Shifnal 5 221.24x
Wem 5 403.23x
Great Sutton 4 3636.36x
Grinshill 4 3636.36x
Lichfield St Mary 4 425.53x
Wrockwardine 4 218.58x
Kinlet 3 2142.86x
Shrewsbury St Mary 3 91.19x
Wellington 3 63.97x
Albrighton 2 500.00x
Adbaston 1 555.56x
Church Hulme 1 454.55x
Forton 1 555.56x
High Offley 1 370.37x
Little Bolton 1 6.79x
Madeley 1 123.46x
Manchester 1 1.94x
Shrewsbury St Julian 1 48.54x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Ann 5
Jane 4
Sarah 4
Annie 2
Emily 2
Margaret 2
Adelaide 1
Alice 1
Anne 1
Caterine 1
Catharine 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Elsie 1
Emma 1
Harriet 1
Lavinnia 1
Lilian 1
Lucy 1
Sussanh 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
Thomas 7
James 6
William 6
Richard 5
Henry 3
Samuel 3
Albert 2
George 2
Joseph 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Jonathan 1
Raymond 1
Rikhard 1
Thos 1
Thos.B. 1

FAQ

Forgham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Forgham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 99 people were recorded with the Forgham surname. That placed it at #19,877 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Forgham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 125 in 2016. That gives Forgham a modern rank of #26,827.

What does the Forgham map show?

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