UK surname
A German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a forest.
In the 1881 census there were 17 people recorded with the Forst surname, ranking it #31,170 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 23, ranked #36,457, down from #31,170 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bradfield St George, St Dunstan Stepney and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Forst is 314 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.3%.
1881 census count
17
Ranked #31,170
Modern count
23
2016, ranked #36,457
Peak year
1891
314 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Forst surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Forst surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 37 | #26,673 |
| 1861 | historical | 234 | #10,463 |
| 1881 | historical | 17 | #31,170 |
| 1891 | historical | 314 | #10,694 |
| 1901 | historical | 74 | #25,958 |
| 1911 | historical | 72 | #25,642 |
| 1997 | modern | 82 | #29,325 |
| 1998 | modern | 55 | #32,399 |
| 1999 | modern | 46 | #33,424 |
| 2000 | modern | 33 | #34,607 |
| 2001 | modern | 27 | #35,041 |
| 2002 | modern | 29 | #35,030 |
| 2003 | modern | 21 | #35,825 |
| 2004 | modern | 22 | #35,878 |
| 2005 | modern | 22 | #35,993 |
| 2006 | modern | 18 | #36,412 |
| 2007 | modern | 20 | #36,362 |
| 2008 | modern | 21 | #36,355 |
| 2009 | modern | 21 | #36,470 |
| 2010 | modern | 23 | #36,400 |
| 2011 | modern | 18 | #36,739 |
| 2012 | modern | 23 | #36,366 |
| 2013 | modern | 22 | #36,477 |
| 2014 | modern | 23 | #36,417 |
| 2015 | modern | 22 | #36,493 |
| 2016 | modern | 23 | #36,457 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bradfield St George, St Dunstan Stepney, Manchester, St Giles Camberwell and Welnethan, Little. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bradfield St George | Suffolk |
| 2 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | St Giles Camberwell | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Welnethan, Little | Suffolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Forst surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Forst, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Forst surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Forst household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Forst is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Forst is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Forst, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Forst is of German origin and dates back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Middle High German word "vorst," which means "forest" or "wooded area." The name likely originated as a topographic name, referring to someone who lived near or in a forested area.
In its earliest recorded forms, the name appeared as Vorst or Vorste in various German records and manuscripts. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Johann von Forst, a landowner mentioned in a document from the region of Saxony in 1292.
Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form of Forst. Some variations of the name include Forstner, Forster, and Forstmeister. The latter variant, meaning "forest master" or "forestry supervisor," suggests that some bearers of the name may have held occupations related to forestry or woodland management.
The Forst surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. In the 16th century, Johann Forst (1495-1558) was a German lawyer and humanist scholar who wrote extensively on legal and philosophical topics.
In the 18th century, Johann Reinhold Forster (1729-1798) was a notable German naturalist and ethnologist who accompanied James Cook on his second voyage to the Pacific. His son, Georg Forster (1754-1794), was also a renowned naturalist and revolutionary writer.
Another notable bearer of the name was Arnold Forster (1810-1884), a German-born industrialist who founded the Forster Brothers & Co. textile company in England.
The name Forst has also been linked to various place names throughout Germany, such as Forst (Lausitz) in Brandenburg and Forst an der Weinstraße in Rhineland-Palatinate. These locations may have influenced the adoption of the surname in their respective regions.
Throughout its history, the surname Forst has maintained its connection to its Germanic roots and its association with forests and woodland areas. It continues to be a prominent surname in German-speaking regions and among individuals of German descent worldwide.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Forst surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 10 Forsts recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.04x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 10 | 6.04x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 13.43x |
| Brecknockshire | 1 | 30.21x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 2.73x |
| Devon | 1 | 2.90x |
| Surrey | 1 | 1.24x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mile End Old Town London in Middlesex leads with 6 Forsts recorded in 1881 and an index of 169.97x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Mile End Old Town London | 6 | 169.97x |
| St Luke London | 3 | 112.78x |
| Arnold | 2 | 606.06x |
| Crewe In Nantwich | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Greasley | 1 | 200.00x |
| Llanelieu | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 16.42x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 1 | 37.59x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 1 | 30.03x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Forst surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Forst surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Forst households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Butcher | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Dom Serv | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| F.W.K. | 1 |
| Farm Servant Indoor | 1 |
| Hosiery Seamer | 1 |
| House Maid | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Laundress Formerly | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 17 people were recorded with the Forst surname. That placed it at #31,170 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 23 in 2016. That gives Forst a modern rank of #36,457.
A German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a forest.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Forst bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.