NameCensus.

UK surname

Forte

An Italian occupational surname referring to a strong or powerful person, or a person of strength.

In the 1881 census there were 109 people recorded with the Forte surname, ranking it #18,793 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 625, ranked #8,440, up from #18,793 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Thorn Coffin, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Clifton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Purbeck, Teignbridge and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Forte is 625 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 473.4%.

1881 census count

109

Ranked #18,793

Modern count

625

2016, ranked #8,440

Peak year

2016

625 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Forte had 109 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,793 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 625 in 2016, ranked #8,440.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 177 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Forte surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Forte surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Forte 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 32 #27,570
1861 historical 116 #18,751
1881 historical 109 #18,793
1891 historical 177 #16,330
1901 historical 175 #16,469
1911 historical 115 #20,951
1997 modern 536 #8,837
1998 modern 563 #8,758
1999 modern 576 #8,673
2000 modern 547 #8,990
2001 modern 531 #9,039
2002 modern 565 #8,802
2003 modern 546 #8,884
2004 modern 547 #8,897
2005 modern 551 #8,767
2006 modern 539 #8,954
2007 modern 557 #8,813
2008 modern 583 #8,606
2009 modern 608 #8,509
2010 modern 618 #8,587
2011 modern 608 #8,597
2012 modern 605 #8,550
2013 modern 606 #8,678
2014 modern 624 #8,545
2015 modern 614 #8,573
2016 modern 625 #8,440

Geography

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Where Fortes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Thorn Coffin, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Clifton, London parishes and Chilthorne Domer. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Purbeck, Teignbridge, Northumberland and Eastbourne. 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 Thorn Coffin Somerset
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Clifton Gloucestershire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Chilthorne Domer Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Purbeck 006 Purbeck
2 Teignbridge 010 Teignbridge
3 Teignbridge 011 Teignbridge
4 Northumberland 001 Northumberland
5 Eastbourne 002 Eastbourne

Forenames

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First names often paired with Forte

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Forte

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Forte surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Forte household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Forte 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

Forte 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

Forte falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Forte is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Forte

The surname Forte is of Italian origin and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Italian word "forte," which means "strong" or "brave." The name likely originated as a nickname or descriptive term for someone who was physically strong or possessed a courageous character.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Forte can be found in the Florentine tax records of the 14th century, indicating that families bearing this surname resided in the city of Florence during that time. The name was also present in other regions of Italy, such as Naples and Puglia, where it may have evolved from different linguistic roots or been adopted by different families.

In the 15th century, a notable figure named Giovanni Forte (1475-1544) was a renowned Italian poet and humanist from Veneto. He was celebrated for his works that blended classical themes with contemporary ideas, contributing to the cultural renaissance of his era.

During the 16th century, the name Forte appeared in several historical documents, including the records of the Venetian Republic. One prominent individual was Jacopo Forte (1520-1592), a skilled architect and engineer who designed several notable buildings and fortifications in Venice and its surrounding areas.

In the 17th century, the name Forte gained recognition in the field of music. Alessandro Forte (1610-1670) was an Italian composer and violinist who worked in the court of the Holy Roman Emperor in Vienna. His compositions, particularly his violin sonatas, were highly regarded and influential during the Baroque period.

Another notable figure was Adriano Forte (1785-1865), an Italian architect and urban planner from Naples. He played a significant role in the redesign and modernization of the city's urban landscape in the 19th century, leaving a lasting impact on its architecture and infrastructure.

Throughout history, the surname Forte has been associated with various place names and older spellings. For instance, the town of Forte dei Marmi in Tuscany derives its name from the fortifications built in the area during the Renaissance period, possibly involving individuals with the surname Forte.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Forte families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Forte 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. Somerset leads with 29 Fortes recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.10x.

County Total Index
Somerset 29 17.10x
Middlesex 19 1.80x
Yorkshire 17 1.63x
Gloucestershire 10 4.84x
Lanarkshire 7 2.05x
Lancashire 6 0.48x
Staffordshire 5 1.41x
Kent 4 1.11x
Durham 3 0.96x
Glamorgan 3 1.64x
Derbyshire 2 1.21x
Midlothian 1 0.71x
Shropshire 1 1.10x
Sussex 1 0.56x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chilthorne Domer in Somerset leads with 22 Fortes recorded in 1881 and an index of 31428.57x.

Place Total Index
Chilthorne Domer 22 31428.57x
Cowling 14 2058.82x
Clifton 10 95.69x
Ilchester 6 2400.00x
Govan 5 5.93x
Paddington London 5 12.91x
St Pancras London 5 5.90x
Stoke Upon Trent 5 13.26x
Oldham 4 9.91x
St Marylebone London 4 7.11x
Monkwearmouth Shore 3 49.02x
Ripon 3 123.97x
St Andrew Holborn London 3 65.79x
Barony 2 2.32x
Chatham 2 20.22x
Greenwich 2 11.93x
Newbold Dunston 2 127.39x
Swansea Town 2 13.30x
Burnley 1 9.50x
Cardiff St Mary 1 9.90x
Clerkenwell London 1 4.02x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 34.13x
Hackney London 1 1.69x
Manchester 1 1.78x
Rogate 1 277.78x
Shifnal 1 40.49x
Walton In Gordano 1 555.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Alice 3
Elizabeth 3
Emma 3
Caroline 2
Ellen 2
Hannah 2
Henrietta 2
Jane 2
Sarah 2
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Anna 1
Annie 1
Dorcas 1
Edith 1
Effie 1
Ethel 1
Flora 1
Frances 1
Helenah 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
Katherine 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Maude 1
S.A. 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 9
John 4
Thomas 3
Charles 2
Frederick 2
George 2
Henry 2
Philip 2
Albert 1
Allonzo 1
Andrew 1
Angelo 1
Edward 1
Everett 1
F. 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Herbert 1
Irva 1
Israel 1
James 1
Jerry 1
Jonas 1
Joseph 1
Nathanel 1
Nathaniel 1
Rennie 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Terry 1
Willis 1

FAQ

Forte surname: questions and answers

How common was the Forte surname in 1881?

In 1881, 109 people were recorded with the Forte surname. That placed it at #18,793 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Forte surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 625 in 2016. That gives Forte a modern rank of #8,440.

What does the Forte surname mean?

An Italian occupational surname referring to a strong or powerful person, or a person of strength.

What does the Forte map show?

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