NameCensus.

UK surname

Forse

A surname derived from the Italian word "forza" meaning strength or force.

In the 1881 census there were 187 people recorded with the Forse surname, ranking it #13,407 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 273, ranked #15,800, down from #13,407 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Cullompton and St James and St Paul. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include The Vale of Glamorgan, Mendip and Bristol.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Forse is 333 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.0%.

1881 census count

187

Ranked #13,407

Modern count

273

2016, ranked #15,800

Peak year

1911

333 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Forse had 187 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,407 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 273 in 2016, ranked #15,800.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 333 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Forse surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Forse surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Forse 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 90 #18,317
1861 historical 132 #16,957
1881 historical 187 #13,407
1891 historical 262 #12,297
1901 historical 295 #11,783
1911 historical 333 #10,624
1997 modern 273 #14,417
1998 modern 289 #14,208
1999 modern 293 #14,175
2000 modern 288 #14,312
2001 modern 284 #14,221
2002 modern 289 #14,341
2003 modern 280 #14,472
2004 modern 281 #14,489
2005 modern 268 #14,905
2006 modern 261 #15,289
2007 modern 271 #15,042
2008 modern 279 #14,860
2009 modern 276 #15,300
2010 modern 286 #15,231
2011 modern 283 #15,193
2012 modern 274 #15,498
2013 modern 283 #15,401
2014 modern 275 #15,831
2015 modern 272 #15,851
2016 modern 273 #15,800

Geography

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Where Forses are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Cullompton, St James and St Paul, London parishes and St Philip and Jacob. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to The Vale of Glamorgan, Mendip, Bristol, North Somerset and Cardiff. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Cullompton Devon
3 St James and St Paul Gloucestershire
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 The Vale of Glamorgan 009 Vale of Glamorgan
2 Mendip 002 Mendip
3 Bristol 002 Bristol, City of
4 North Somerset 009 North Somerset
5 Cardiff 026 Cardiff

Forenames

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First names often paired with Forse

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Forse

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Forse 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

Forse is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Forse 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 Forse is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Forse

The surname Forse originated in France, specifically in the region of Normandy during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "fors," meaning "outside" or "outside of." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived on the outskirts of a town or village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Forse name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that individuals bearing this name likely migrated from Normandy to England during or shortly after the Norman Conquest in 1066.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Robert Forse was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, which were records of financial transactions related to land ownership and taxation. This provides evidence of the name's presence in England during that period.

During the 14th century, the surname Forse appeared in various records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire and the Poll Tax Records of Yorkshire. This indicates the name's spread across different regions of England.

In the 16th century, a prominent individual named John Forse was born in Somerset, England, around 1520. He was a successful merchant and landowner, contributing to the local economy and leaving a lasting impact on the area.

Another notable figure was William Forse, born in Oxfordshire in 1645. He was a respected scholar and author, known for his work on English literature and history.

In the 18th century, a prominent clergyman named Richard Forse (1710-1785) served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Warwickshire. He was known for his contributions to theological writings and his influential sermons.

The name Forse also has variations in spelling, such as Forsse, Forsse, and Forsh, which can be found in historical records from various regions of England and France.

It's worth noting that the Forse surname has connections to several place names, including Forse in Normandy, France, and Forse in Somerset, England. These place names may have influenced the surname's origins and its subsequent spread across different regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Forse families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Forse 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. Gloucestershire leads with 54 Forses recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.70x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 54 14.70x
Devon 28 7.18x
Middlesex 28 1.49x
Dorset 23 18.71x
Surrey 12 1.31x
Cornwall 9 4.24x
Hampshire 7 1.82x
Lancashire 6 0.27x
Leicestershire 5 2.41x
Channel Islands 4 7.21x
Shropshire 4 2.47x
Somerset 4 1.33x
Yorkshire 3 0.16x
Glamorgan 2 0.61x
Durham 1 0.18x
Kent 1 0.16x
Royal Navy 1 4.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St Philip Jacob in Gloucestershire leads with 16 Forses recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.27x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St Philip Jacob 16 46.27x
Bristol St James St Paul 14 114.29x
Cullompton 11 647.06x
Fordington 10 377.36x
St Pancras London 10 6.63x
Plymouth St Andrew 8 26.64x
Yetminster 7 1521.74x
Bristol St James In 6 111.11x
Clerkenwell London 6 13.57x
Crompton 6 94.79x
Egham 6 107.14x
Shoreditch London 6 7.39x
Altarnun 5 675.68x
Lambeth 5 3.06x
Leicester St Mary 5 29.80x
Bristol St Paul In 4 40.86x
Exeter St Thomas The 4 100.76x
Holdenhurst 4 39.72x
Horfield 4 108.11x
North Hill 4 588.24x
Shrewsbury St Mary 4 62.70x
St Helier 4 22.14x
Bristol St Peter 3 229.01x
Bromley London 3 7.28x
Dorchester Holy Trinity 3 300.00x
Exeter St George The 3 697.67x
Wellington 3 73.35x
Weymouth 3 128.76x
Bowling 2 10.88x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 2 59.70x
Henbury 2 111.73x
Maisemore 2 625.00x
Portsea 2 2.66x
Willesden 2 11.33x
Ystradyfodwg 2 6.99x
Battersea 1 1.45x
Bedminster 1 3.53x
Denaby 1 95.24x
Exeter Holy Trinity 1 65.36x
Exeter St Olave 1 200.00x
Hetton Le Hole 1 14.16x
Minster In Sheppey 1 9.44x
Royal Navy 1 5.24x
St Sepulchre London 1 36.50x
Wickwar 1 169.49x
Yarmouth 1 196.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 12
Mary 10
Elizabeth 7
Ellen 6
Eliza 4
Emily 4
Ann 3
Bessie 3
Jane 3
Kate 3
Matilda 3
Alice 2
Elizth. 2
Hannah 2
Isabella 2
Ada 1
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Clarise 1
Edwina 1
Elsie 1
Emeline 1
Emma 1
Ester 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Helen 1
Julia 1
Louisa 1
Mabel 1
Margt.Ann 1
Maria 1
Rebbeca 1
Rosetta 1
Rosina 1
Rossa 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
John 10
Thomas 9
Henry 6
James 6
Edward 5
Charles 4
Frank 4
Frederick 4
Robert 4
George 3
Joseph 3
Albert 2
Edmond 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Augustine 1
Benjamin 1
Chas.Edwin 1
Claude 1
Edwin 1
Ephraim 1
Ephram 1
Hallett 1
Joe 1
Manuel 1
Mark 1
Samuel 1
Tom 1
Victor 1
Walter 1
Wm.Thos. 1
Zachens 1

FAQ

Forse surname: questions and answers

How common was the Forse surname in 1881?

In 1881, 187 people were recorded with the Forse surname. That placed it at #13,407 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Forse surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 273 in 2016. That gives Forse a modern rank of #15,800.

What does the Forse surname mean?

A surname derived from the Italian word "forza" meaning strength or force.

What does the Forse map show?

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