NameCensus.

UK surname

Forsythe

From the Old English words "ford" and "syðe," meaning a person who lived near a shallow river crossing.

In the 1881 census there were 285 people recorded with the Forsythe surname, ranking it #10,070 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 918, ranked #6,215, up from #10,070 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Ancrum and Cross Cannonby. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bellshill South, Central Bedfordshire and Blackburn with Darwen.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Forsythe is 960 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 222.1%.

1881 census count

285

Ranked #10,070

Modern count

918

2016, ranked #6,215

Peak year

2010

960 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Forsythe had 285 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,070 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 918 in 2016, ranked #6,215.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 415 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Forsythe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Forsythe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Forsythe 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 415 #5,850
1861 historical 323 #7,888
1881 historical 285 #10,070
1891 historical 288 #11,450
1901 historical 350 #10,439
1911 historical 232 #13,592
1997 modern 836 #6,318
1998 modern 897 #6,174
1999 modern 890 #6,257
2000 modern 906 #6,150
2001 modern 880 #6,175
2002 modern 917 #6,116
2003 modern 881 #6,182
2004 modern 898 #6,097
2005 modern 892 #6,068
2006 modern 890 #6,095
2007 modern 900 #6,084
2008 modern 923 #6,018
2009 modern 927 #6,111
2010 modern 960 #6,071
2011 modern 934 #6,150
2012 modern 914 #6,178
2013 modern 939 #6,150
2014 modern 933 #6,218
2015 modern 921 #6,223
2016 modern 918 #6,215

Geography

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Where Forsythes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Ancrum, Cross Cannonby, London parishes and Greenlaw. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bellshill South, Central Bedfordshire, Blackburn with Darwen, Lancaster and Hinckley and Bosworth. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Ancrum Roxburgh
3 Cross Cannonby Cumberland
4 London parishes London 3
5 Greenlaw Berwick

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bellshill South North Lanarkshire
2 Central Bedfordshire 021 Central Bedfordshire
3 Blackburn with Darwen 009 Blackburn with Darwen
4 Lancaster 011 Lancaster
5 Hinckley and Bosworth 010 Hinckley and Bosworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Forsythe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Forsythe

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

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Forsythe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Forsythe household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

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, Forsythe 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

Forsythe is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Forsythe falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Forsythe 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Forsythe

The surname Forsythe originated in Scotland, deriving from the Old English words "fors" meaning a waterfall or stream and "sithe" meaning a path or side. It was likely first used to describe someone living near a waterfall or stream path. The earliest recorded spelling of the name was found in the 13th century in the region of Forfarshire, now known as Angus, Scotland.

In the 16th century, the name Forsythe was recorded in the Parish Registers of Inverkeillor, Angus, Scotland. The name appeared as Forsyth, Forsythe, and Forsaith. During this time, the name was also found in the Fife region of Scotland, particularly in the parishes of Dysart and Markinch.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname was John Forsyth, who was born in Scotland around 1450. He was a prominent merchant and landowner in the town of Montrose, Angus.

In the 17th century, the name Forsythe was found in various historical records, including the Hearth Tax Rolls of Stirlingshire and the Parish Registers of Alloa, Clackmannanshire. The name was also recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror.

A notable figure with the surname was William Forsyth (1737-1804), a Scottish botanist and co-founder of the Royal Horticultural Society. He made significant contributions to the study of plant diseases and the cultivation of fruit trees.

Another prominent individual was John Forsyth (1780-1841), an American statesman and diplomat. He served as the 13th United States Secretary of State from 1834 to 1841 under Presidents Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren.

In the 19th century, the name Forsythe was found in various parts of the United States, particularly in areas with Scottish immigration. James Forsyth (1818-1898) was a Canadian politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons.

Other notable individuals with the surname include Robert Forsyth (1766-1846), a British army officer and colonial administrator in India, and James W. Forsyth (1836-1906), an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States Representative from Illinois.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Forsythe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Forsythe 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 35 Forsythes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.04x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 35 1.04x
Cumberland 33 13.50x
Lanarkshire 21 2.29x
Middlesex 18 0.63x
Renfrewshire 14 6.36x
Roxburghshire 14 27.23x
Northumberland 12 2.84x
Durham 11 1.30x
Midlothian 11 2.89x
Warwickshire 11 1.54x
Yorkshire 10 0.36x
Somerset 9 1.97x
Dumfriesshire 8 12.76x
Kent 7 0.72x
Caithness 6 15.44x
Essex 6 1.07x
Hertfordshire 6 3.07x
Selkirkshire 6 23.36x
Berwickshire 5 14.55x
Glamorgan 5 1.01x
Isle of Man 5 9.49x
Clackmannanshire 4 17.06x
Derbyshire 4 0.90x
Ross-shire 4 5.13x
Morayshire 3 6.80x
Staffordshire 3 0.31x
Surrey 3 0.22x
Westmorland 3 4.81x
Perthshire 2 1.57x
Royal Navy 2 5.91x
Shetland 2 6.90x
Angus 1 0.38x
Ayrshire 1 0.47x
Devon 1 0.17x
Northamptonshire 1 0.37x
Oxfordshire 1 0.57x
Pembrokeshire 1 1.11x
Wiltshire 1 0.40x
Worcestershire 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Port Glasgow in Renfrewshire leads with 13 Forsythes recorded in 1881 and an index of 122.30x.

Place Total Index
Port Glasgow 13 122.30x
Crosscanonby 10 123.76x
Kirkdale 9 15.88x
Walcot 9 36.99x
Aston 7 3.55x
Chelsea London 7 8.18x
Hobkirk 7 1076.92x
Galashiels 6 63.22x
Hayton Mealo 6 2068.97x
Thurso 6 99.01x
Workington 6 42.89x
Cambusnethan 5 24.52x
Everton 5 4.66x
Glasgow 5 3.07x
Govan 5 2.20x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 5 13.67x
Lowick 5 340.14x
Merthyr Tydfil 5 10.53x
St Marylebone London 5 3.30x
Stow 5 256.41x
Birmingham 4 1.68x
Caldewgate 4 29.87x
Cavers 4 310.08x
Chipping Barnet 4 116.96x
Clackmannan 4 90.29x
Cromarty 4 191.39x
Crook Billy Row 4 37.00x
Cummersdale 4 481.93x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 2.61x
Glossop Dale 4 19.22x
Higher Booths 4 65.90x
Jurby 4 625.00x
Old Monkland 4 10.98x
Ardwick 3 9.87x
Ayton 3 150.75x
Cobham 3 337.08x
Colchester St Botolph 3 62.89x
Dornock 3 379.75x
Elton 3 25.77x
Forres 3 64.66x
Kendal 3 26.27x
Kirkleatham 3 78.95x
Sheffield 3 3.35x
West Derby 3 3.04x
Woolwich 3 8.38x
Barony 2 0.86x
Clerkenwell London 2 2.99x
Cresswell 2 1052.63x
Hook 2 32.31x
Liverpool 2 0.98x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 2 7.93x
Royal Navy 2 6.92x
Sandsting Aitsting 2 76.05x
St Pancras London 2 0.88x
Sunderland 2 13.41x
Walsall Borough 2 26.88x
Welwyn 2 118.34x
Annan 1 18.55x
Arlecdon 1 15.38x
Bermondsey 1 1.18x
Bury 1 2.60x
Dalkeith 1 13.33x
Foots Cray 1 54.05x
Great Witley 1 270.27x
Gretna 1 84.75x
Hampstead London 1 2.26x
Hawick 1 8.69x
Hoddam 1 66.23x
Huyton With Roby 1 25.32x
Kilmadock 1 34.13x
Kingsteignton 1 60.98x
Melrose 1 22.47x
Oxford St Giles 1 11.96x
Pembroke St Mary 1 8.61x
Richmond 1 5.16x
Rochester 1 303.03x
Rockingham 1 454.55x
St Anne Soho London 1 6.17x
Walthamstow 1 4.96x
Wigan 1 2.12x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
John 9
James 7
Thomas 6
Robert 5
Wm. 5
Hugh 4
Samuel 3
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Adam 1
Alan 1
Alex 1
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Anderson 1
Austin 1
Edward 1
Gilbert 1
Hy. 1
Jasnet 1
Jno. 1
Jorge 1
Joshua 1
Lionel 1
Malcoambe 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Patrick 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Rice 1
Sidney 1
Thos.Jas. 1
Thos.T. 1
Victor 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Forsythe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Forsythe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 285 people were recorded with the Forsythe surname. That placed it at #10,070 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Forsythe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 918 in 2016. That gives Forsythe a modern rank of #6,215.

What does the Forsythe surname mean?

From the Old English words "ford" and "syðe," meaning a person who lived near a shallow river crossing.

What does the Forsythe map show?

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