NameCensus.

UK surname

Forshaw

An English locational surname referring to someone from a place called Forshaw.

In the 1881 census there were 2,010 people recorded with the Forshaw surname, ranking it #2,188 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,212, ranked #2,116, up from #2,188 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wigan, Preston and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Lancashire and Bolton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Forshaw is 3,509 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.8%.

1881 census count

2,010

Ranked #2,188

Modern count

3,212

2016, ranked #2,116

Peak year

1999

3,509 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Forshaw had 2,010 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,188 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,212 in 2016, ranked #2,116.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,912 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Forshaw surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Forshaw surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Forshaw 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 1,031 #2,716
1861 historical 1,106 #2,536
1881 historical 2,010 #2,188
1891 historical 2,127 #2,191
1901 historical 2,523 #2,175
1911 historical 2,912 #1,788
1997 modern 3,359 #1,921
1998 modern 3,423 #1,953
1999 modern 3,509 #1,937
2000 modern 3,493 #1,940
2001 modern 3,418 #1,933
2002 modern 3,463 #1,955
2003 modern 3,395 #1,953
2004 modern 3,388 #1,956
2005 modern 3,284 #1,984
2006 modern 3,222 #2,028
2007 modern 3,228 #2,044
2008 modern 3,245 #2,052
2009 modern 3,356 #2,039
2010 modern 3,458 #2,018
2011 modern 3,369 #2,040
2012 modern 3,215 #2,095
2013 modern 3,267 #2,102
2014 modern 3,292 #2,099
2015 modern 3,229 #2,118
2016 modern 3,212 #2,116

Geography

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Where Forshaws are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wigan, Preston, Liverpool, Ormskirk and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Lancashire and Bolton. 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 Wigan Lancashire
2 Preston Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Ormskirk Lancashire
5 West Derby Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Lancashire 004 West Lancashire
2 West Lancashire 001 West Lancashire
3 West Lancashire 007 West Lancashire
4 Bolton 031 Bolton
5 West Lancashire 003 West Lancashire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Forshaw

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Forshaw

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Forshaw surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Forshaw 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Forshaw is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Forshaw 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

Forshaw falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Forshaw

The surname Forshaw has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval era. It is believed to have originated from a combination of two Old English words, "fore" meaning in front of, and "sceaga" meaning a small wood or grove. This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived near or in front of a small wooded area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Forshaw can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Forsceaga." This comprehensive survey, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insight into the distribution of surnames and landholdings across England during that period.

Throughout the centuries, the name has undergone various spelling variations, such as Forshawe, Forshay, and Forshew, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal conventions of the time. Some notable individuals bearing this surname include:

1. John Forshaw (c. 1570-1634), an English Catholic priest and martyr who was executed during the reign of King Charles I. 2. William Forshaw (1816-1886), a British railway engineer known for his work on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. 3. Edward Forshaw (1807-1887), a prominent English landowner and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Wigan. 4. Thomas Forshaw (1836-1892), a British architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in Liverpool, including the Royal Court Theatre. 5. Reginald Forshaw (1904-1979), a British World War II veteran and recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service as a Royal Air Force pilot.

The name Forshaw has also been associated with various place names in England, particularly in Lancashire and the surrounding areas. For instance, Forshaw Moss and Forshaw Wyre are localities that may have derived their names from the surname itself or from the Old English words that gave rise to it.

While the Forshaw surname may not be among the most common in modern times, its rich history and enduring presence throughout the centuries serve as a testament to its deep-rooted English heritage and the stories of the individuals who have borne this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Forshaw families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Forshaw 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. Lancashire leads with 1,740 Forshaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.47x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,740 7.47x
Cheshire 102 2.35x
Yorkshire 29 0.15x
Staffordshire 15 0.23x
Derbyshire 12 0.39x
Surrey 11 0.12x
Kent 10 0.15x
Oxfordshire 10 0.82x
Shropshire 10 0.59x
Denbighshire 9 1.21x
Nottinghamshire 9 0.34x
Stirlingshire 8 1.10x
Aberdeenshire 7 0.38x
Cumberland 7 0.41x
Essex 6 0.15x
Middlesex 4 0.02x
Somerset 4 0.13x
Westmorland 4 0.93x
Isle of Man 3 0.82x
Flintshire 2 0.38x
Hampshire 2 0.05x
Lanarkshire 2 0.03x
Berkshire 1 0.07x
Devon 1 0.02x
Durham 1 0.02x
Glamorgan 1 0.03x
Midlothian 1 0.04x
Sussex 1 0.03x
Worcestershire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 94 Forshaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.08x.

Place Total Index
Preston 94 15.08x
Liverpool 77 5.44x
Wigan 77 23.65x
Haydock 67 166.87x
Scarisbrick 57 210.72x
West Derby 54 7.92x
Lathom 47 167.02x
Everton 42 5.66x
Ormskirk 42 94.19x
Kirkdale 38 9.69x
Little Hoole 38 1283.78x
North Meols 37 16.22x
Tarleton 36 281.03x
Tranmere 34 21.34x
Bootle Cum Linacre 32 17.29x
Barrow In Furness 30 9.47x
Toxteth Park 30 3.80x
Burtonwood 29 339.18x
Tottington Lower End 27 24.38x
Birkdale 26 44.10x
Blackburn 26 4.19x
Burscough 25 702.25x
Warrington 24 8.69x
Pemberton 22 23.68x
Great Bolton 21 6.80x
Lytham 21 59.04x
Manchester 21 2.00x
Upholland 21 70.33x
Parr 20 23.99x
Huyton With Roby 18 65.93x
Rainhill 18 120.56x
Walton On Hill 18 14.26x
Hesketh Cum Becconsall 17 291.60x
Bickerstaffe 16 104.92x
Bury 15 5.64x
Westhoughton 15 24.12x
Aspull 14 25.54x
Eccleston In Prescot 14 11.97x
Skelmersdale 14 36.05x
Stoke Upon Trent 14 1.99x
Castleton 13 5.59x
Much Hoole 13 332.48x
Chorlton On Medlock 12 3.24x
Farnworth 12 8.60x
Hulme 12 2.47x
Birkenhead 11 3.18x
Bispham 11 582.01x
Croston 11 91.36x
Hindley 11 11.07x
Leyland 11 27.13x
Pennington In Leigh 11 24.60x
Prescot 11 26.10x
Salford 11 1.61x
Albrighton 10 122.10x
Bradford 10 2.12x
Elton 10 12.42x
Fulwood 10 39.71x
Oxford St Giles 10 17.29x
Pilkington 10 11.30x
Widnes 10 5.95x
Aughton 9 38.99x
Blyth 9 216.87x
Bretherton 9 189.47x
Chorley 9 6.88x
Clayton Le Woods 9 412.84x
Heaton Norris 9 6.79x
Newton 9 5.01x
Orrell 9 31.07x
Walton Le Dale 9 14.37x
Whiston 9 49.51x
Barnston 8 425.53x
Drymen 8 82.39x
Higher Bebington 8 28.83x
Ince In Makerfield 8 7.38x
Lea Ashton Ingol 8 51.71x
Leeds 8 0.73x
Ruabon 8 7.84x
Adlington 7 32.08x
Gorton 7 3.20x
Millom 7 13.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 171
Elizabeth 90
Margaret 82
Ellen 74
Ann 64
Jane 64
Alice 54
Sarah 42
Emma 18
Annie 17
Hannah 16
Martha 14
Catherine 12
Eliza 12
Ada 10
Emily 10
Esther 10
Louisa 10
Anne 9
Edith 9
Florence 9
Isabella 9
Agnes 8
Ruth 8
Harriet 7
Margery 7
Amelia 6
Frances 6
Kate 5
Rebecca 5
Betty 4
Caroline 4
Clara 4
Eleanor 4
Elizth. 4
Jessie 4
Maria 4
Amy 3
Betsy 3
Bridget 3
Charlotte 3
Eliz. 3
Fanny 3
Janet 3
Margt. 3
Phoebe 3
Susan 3
Lydia 2
Maggie 2
Winifred 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 163
William 121
Thomas 97
James 84
Henry 56
Richard 49
Joseph 48
Robert 37
Edward 32
Peter 29
Charles 24
George 22
Samuel 12
Daniel 10
David 9
Harry 7
Abraham 6
Alfred 6
Hugh 6
Wm. 6
Albert 5
Arthur 5
Edwin 5
Ralph 5
Timothy 5
Adam 4
Frederick 4
Matthew 4
Nathan 4
Philip 4
Thos. 4
Mathew 3
Richd. 3
Walter 3
Anthony 2
Christopher 2
Ernest 2
Fred 2
Giles 2
Herbert 2
Isaiah 2
Jonathan 2
Michael 2
Thurstan 2
Frank 1
Frankling 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Jephtha 1
Wm.R. 1

FAQ

Forshaw surname: questions and answers

How common was the Forshaw surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,010 people were recorded with the Forshaw surname. That placed it at #2,188 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Forshaw surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,212 in 2016. That gives Forshaw a modern rank of #2,116.

What does the Forshaw surname mean?

An English locational surname referring to someone from a place called Forshaw.

What does the Forshaw map show?

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