NameCensus.

UK surname

Forson

A surname originating from a first name and the word "son", meaning son of someone named Fors.

In the 1881 census there were 60 people recorded with the Forson surname, ranking it #25,133 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 238, ranked #17,361, up from #25,133 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fairmilehead, East Dorset and Fernieside and Moredun South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Forson is 238 in 2008. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 296.7%.

1881 census count

60

Ranked #25,133

Modern count

238

2016, ranked #17,361

Peak year

2008

238 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Forson had 60 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,133 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 238 in 2016, ranked #17,361.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 82 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Forson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Forson surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Forson 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 35 #27,037
1861 historical 53 #27,253
1881 historical 60 #25,133
1891 historical 64 #28,781
1901 historical 82 #25,019
1911 historical 8 #32,903
1997 modern 140 #22,031
1998 modern 163 #20,582
1999 modern 166 #20,458
2000 modern 174 #19,829
2001 modern 168 #19,986
2002 modern 183 #19,354
2003 modern 184 #19,075
2004 modern 194 #18,566
2005 modern 204 #17,893
2006 modern 212 #17,612
2007 modern 231 #16,835
2008 modern 238 #16,640
2009 modern 227 #17,544
2010 modern 235 #17,477
2011 modern 223 #17,940
2012 modern 217 #18,184
2013 modern 223 #18,135
2014 modern 235 #17,619
2015 modern 234 #17,577
2016 modern 238 #17,361

Geography

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Where Forsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fairmilehead, East Dorset, Fernieside and Moredun South, Braehead and Southwark. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fairmilehead City of Edinburgh
2 East Dorset 003 East Dorset
3 Fernieside and Moredun South City of Edinburgh
4 Braehead Stirling
5 Southwark 015 Southwark

Forenames

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First names often paired with Forson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Forson

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Forson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Forson 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 often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Forson is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Forson 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

Forson falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Forson

The surname Forson originated in England during the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "ford" meaning a shallow place for crossing a river, and "sunu" meaning son. This suggests the name initially referred to someone who lived near a ford or river crossing.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname dates back to 1273 in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, where it appeared as "Alfrid de la Fordesone." This spelling variation indicates the name's link to a specific place name containing the word "ford."

In the 14th century, the Forson surname appeared in various historical records, including the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379, which listed a "Johannes Fordesone." This demonstrates the name's presence in different regions of England during this period.

The Domesday Book, a valuable record compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the Forson surname. However, it does mention numerous place names containing the word "ford," which could have influenced the formation of the surname in subsequent centuries.

Notable individuals who bore the Forson surname include:

1. William Forson (c. 1480 - 1545), an English landowner and member of the gentry in Gloucestershire. 2. Thomas Forson (1567 - 1629), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Warwickshire. 3. Margaret Forson (c. 1605 - 1670), a prominent figure in the English Civil War known for her support of the Parliamentarian cause. 4. John Forson (1689 - 1756), a successful merchant and alderman in the City of London during the 18th century. 5. Edward Forson (1811 - 1888), a British explorer and writer who documented his travels in Africa and Asia.

While the Forson surname has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, such as Fordson, Ffordsone, and Fordsonne, the core meaning and origin remain rooted in the Old English words related to a ford or river crossing.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Forson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Forson 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. Lanarkshire leads with 23 Forsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.15x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 23 12.15x
Selkirkshire 13 245.75x
Angus 9 16.60x
Midlothian 8 10.21x
Leicestershire 2 3.08x
Renfrewshire 2 4.41x
Roxburghshire 2 18.87x
Lancashire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 10 Forsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.88x.

Place Total Index
Barony 10 20.88x
Selkirk 10 671.14x
Monifieth 9 471.20x
South Leith 8 90.70x
Glasgow 7 20.83x
Rutherglen 6 215.83x
Melrose 3 225.56x
Eastwood 2 71.68x
Leicester St Margaret 2 12.64x
Smailholm 2 2222.22x
Liverpool 1 2.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Maria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 1
William 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Forson households.

FAQ

Forson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Forson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 60 people were recorded with the Forson surname. That placed it at #25,133 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Forson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 238 in 2016. That gives Forson a modern rank of #17,361.

What does the Forson surname mean?

A surname originating from a first name and the word "son", meaning son of someone named Fors.

What does the Forson map show?

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