NameCensus.

UK surname

Forsey

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "of the dwellers by the fir woods".

In the 1881 census there were 320 people recorded with the Forsey surname, ranking it #9,298 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 557, ranked #9,196, up from #9,298 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Winsham , Cricket St Thomas and Chard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset, Mendip and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Forsey is 614 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 74.1%.

1881 census count

320

Ranked #9,298

Modern count

557

2016, ranked #9,196

Peak year

1911

614 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Forsey had 320 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,298 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 557 in 2016, ranked #9,196.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 614 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Forsey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Forsey surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Forsey 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 273 #8,212
1861 historical 238 #10,321
1881 historical 320 #9,298
1891 historical 493 #7,514
1901 historical 474 #8,382
1911 historical 614 #6,717
1997 modern 554 #8,610
1998 modern 571 #8,675
1999 modern 589 #8,548
2000 modern 603 #8,394
2001 modern 580 #8,485
2002 modern 597 #8,494
2003 modern 574 #8,581
2004 modern 571 #8,629
2005 modern 561 #8,667
2006 modern 552 #8,786
2007 modern 575 #8,629
2008 modern 567 #8,761
2009 modern 585 #8,747
2010 modern 592 #8,874
2011 modern 575 #8,967
2012 modern 567 #8,971
2013 modern 572 #9,042
2014 modern 565 #9,191
2015 modern 548 #9,338
2016 modern 557 #9,196

Geography

Back to top

Where Forseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Winsham , Cricket St Thomas, Chard, London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Dorset, Mendip and Wiltshire. 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 Winsham , Cricket St Thomas Somerset
3 Chard Somerset
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 003 West Dorset
2 Mendip 013 Mendip
3 West Dorset 007 West Dorset
4 Wiltshire 034 Wiltshire
5 West Dorset 005 West Dorset

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Forsey

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Forsey

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

London Fringe

Within London, Forsey is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Forsey is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Forsey falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Forsey

The surname Forsey has its origins in medieval England, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from a locational name, referring to someone who hailed from the village of Forsey or Forsie in Devon, England. This place name is derived from the Old English words "fors" meaning waterfall or stream, and "ieg" meaning island, indicating a settlement near a waterfall or stream island.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Forsey surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where it appears as "Forsie." This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the late 12th century. Other early spellings included Forsy, Forsye, and Forsea.

The Forsey name appears to have been concentrated in the southwestern counties of England, particularly Devon and Somerset, during the medieval and early modern periods. Records from the 14th century indicate that a Richard Forsey held lands in the parish of Branscombe, Devon.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the Forsey surname was Sir William Forsey (c. 1520 - 1591), a wealthy merchant and Sheriff of London in 1582. He hailed from Wiltshire and was known for his philanthropic endeavors, including founding a free school in his hometown of Salisbury.

Another prominent individual was Robert Forsey (1635 - 1701), a clergyman who served as the Bishop of Killaloe and Kilfenora in Ireland during the late 17th century. He was born in Wiltshire and was known for his religious writings and sermons.

In the 18th century, John Forsey (1711 - 1782) was a notable English surveyor and cartographer. He was responsible for creating detailed maps of various counties in southern England, including Wiltshire and Hampshire.

Moving into the 19th century, one noteworthy figure was Sir George Forsey (1825 - 1901), a British military officer who served in the Crimean War and the Indian Rebellion of 1857. He rose to the rank of General and was knighted for his services.

Throughout history, the Forsey surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Forsey's Farm in Devon, Forsey's Bridge in Somerset, and Forsey's Manor in Wiltshire. These place names further reinforce the surname's connection to specific locations and settlements in the southwestern regions of the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Forsey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Forsey 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. Dorset leads with 117 Forseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 56.93x.

County Total Index
Dorset 117 56.93x
Somerset 72 14.29x
Surrey 26 1.70x
Middlesex 17 0.54x
Hampshire 15 2.34x
Essex 12 1.94x
Gloucestershire 11 1.79x
Devon 10 1.53x
Nottinghamshire 6 1.42x
Glamorgan 5 0.92x
Kent 5 0.47x
Yorkshire 5 0.16x
Cheshire 4 0.58x
Lancashire 4 0.11x
Warwickshire 4 0.51x
Sussex 3 0.57x
Channel Islands 1 1.08x
Monmouthshire 1 0.44x
Royal Navy 1 2.68x
Wiltshire 1 0.36x
Worcestershire 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Symondsbury in Dorset leads with 26 Forseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1984.73x.

Place Total Index
Symondsbury 26 1984.73x
Winsham 22 2391.30x
Bradpole 16 952.38x
Broadwinsor 13 962.96x
Chertsey 11 111.56x
Portsea 11 8.75x
Axminster 10 326.80x
Bothenhampton 9 1578.95x
East Ham 9 78.47x
Islington London 9 2.97x
Buckland Newton 8 869.57x
Bettiscombe 7 10000.00x
Combe St Nicholas 7 573.77x
Ruishton 7 1372.55x
Taunton St James 7 95.24x
Nottingham St Mary 6 5.50x
Bristol St James St Paul 5 24.41x
Chard 5 81.97x
Chideock 5 694.44x
Maiden Newton 5 581.40x
Stoke Abbott 5 847.46x
Thorncombe 5 423.73x
Battersea 4 3.47x
Bedminster 4 8.45x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 6.92x
Chardstock 4 281.69x
Crewkerne 4 74.77x
Drypool 4 84.21x
Glastonbury 4 97.32x
Grendon 4 588.24x
Lewisham 4 7.02x
Llandaff 4 22.05x
Newington 4 3.46x
Beaminster 3 131.58x
Dorchester St Peter 3 201.34x
Norton Fitzwarren 3 422.54x
Stretton In Runcorn 3 697.67x
West Ham 3 2.20x
West Hatch 3 666.67x
Alverstoke 2 8.61x
Clerkenwell London 2 2.71x
Everton 2 1.69x
Farnborough 2 29.67x
Knowle St Giles 2 1818.18x
Marshwood 2 555.56x
Southwark St Saviour 2 12.43x
Streatham 2 8.61x
Taunton St Mary 2 21.62x
Toxteth Park 2 1.59x
Amberley 1 128.21x
Betshanger 1 1428.57x
Bishops Hull 1 61.35x
Bridport 1 23.64x
Cardiff St Mary 1 3.33x
Cheltenham 1 2.11x
Clifton 1 3.22x
Croydon 1 1.18x
Grappenhall 1 119.05x
Hackney London 1 0.57x
Halstock 1 208.33x
Hastings St Mary 1 7.61x
Hook 1 588.24x
Hove 1 4.32x
Kensington London 1 0.57x
Lyme Regis 1 40.65x
Poplar London 1 1.69x
Portland 1 9.05x
Royal Navy 1 3.14x
Sculcoates 1 2.03x
Severn Stoke 1 135.14x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.81x
St George In East London 1 3.40x
St Lawrence 1 39.53x
St Mellons 1 156.25x
St Pancras London 1 0.40x
Sutton 1 9.06x
Swindon 1 4.66x
Tarrant Keynston 1 344.83x
Walton On Thames 1 14.27x
Westonsuper Mare 1 97.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Sarah 12
Elizabeth 11
Ann 9
Emily 8
Eliza 7
Ellen 6
Alice 5
Fanny 4
Martha 4
Agnes 3
Annie 3
Bessie 3
Caroline 3
Jane 3
Abigail 2
Amelia 2
Anstice 2
Clara 2
Emma 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Kate 2
Mabel 2
Sophia 2
Tryphena 2
Easter 1
Elisa 1
Elizabth 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
H.M. 1
Helena 1
Jennie 1
Julia 1
Kitty 1
Lavinia 1
Leah 1
Lilian 1
Louisa 1
M. 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 21
John 19
George 14
James 14
Charles 10
Thomas 9
Francis 5
Henry 5
Samuel 5
Albert 4
Frederick 4
Benjamin 3
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Daniel 2
Earnest 2
Eli 2
Herbert 2
Job 2
Robert 2
Tom 2
Walter 2
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Ben.Thos.Chas. 1
Bowden 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Lawrence 1
Matthew 1
Oliver 1
Percey 1
Sidney 1
W.H. 1
W.M. 1

FAQ

Forsey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Forsey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 320 people were recorded with the Forsey surname. That placed it at #9,298 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Forsey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 557 in 2016. That gives Forsey a modern rank of #9,196.

What does the Forsey surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "of the dwellers by the fir woods".

What does the Forsey map show?

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