NameCensus.

UK surname

Fortescue

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "vigorous" or "powerful" stream.

In the 1881 census there were 376 people recorded with the Fortescue surname, ranking it #8,326 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 358, ranked #12,931, down from #8,326 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Paddington and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Cotswold and East Northamptonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fortescue is 413 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.8%.

1881 census count

376

Ranked #8,326

Modern count

358

2016, ranked #12,931

Peak year

2002

413 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fortescue had 376 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,326 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 358 in 2016, ranked #12,931.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 399 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Fortescue surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fortescue surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fortescue 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 252 #8,733
1861 historical 209 #11,596
1881 historical 376 #8,326
1891 historical 387 #9,122
1901 historical 399 #9,495
1911 historical 371 #9,830
1997 modern 367 #11,751
1998 modern 388 #11,612
1999 modern 410 #11,246
2000 modern 397 #11,463
2001 modern 412 #10,980
2002 modern 413 #11,170
2003 modern 397 #11,316
2004 modern 386 #11,579
2005 modern 366 #11,964
2006 modern 368 #11,990
2007 modern 373 #12,005
2008 modern 369 #12,210
2009 modern 374 #12,343
2010 modern 379 #12,483
2011 modern 367 #12,647
2012 modern 357 #12,757
2013 modern 379 #12,399
2014 modern 373 #12,633
2015 modern 365 #12,743
2016 modern 358 #12,931

Geography

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Where Fortescues are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Paddington, St Pancras and Winwick. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Cotswold, East Northamptonshire, West Dorset and Northumberland. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Paddington London (West Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Winwick Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 061 Wiltshire
2 Cotswold 001 Cotswold
3 East Northamptonshire 010 East Northamptonshire
4 West Dorset 005 West Dorset
5 Northumberland 006 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fortescue

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fortescue

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Fortescue surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Fortescue 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Fortescue 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

Fortescue 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

Fortescue falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Fortescue

The surname Fortescue originated in England during the Middle Ages. Its earliest spelling variations included Fortescu, Fortescue, and Fortesce. The name is derived from the Old English words "fort," meaning strong, and "escu," meaning shelter or protection, essentially translating to "strong shelter."

The Fortescue family hailed from Devon, a county in southwestern England. Their ancestral roots can be traced back to the 11th century, and the name appears in the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, compiled by order of William the Conqueror. This historical document records the first known bearer of the name as William Fortescu, a landowner in Devon.

One of the earliest and most prominent members of the Fortescue family was Sir John Fortescue (c. 1394-1476), a renowned English jurist and author. He served as Lord Chief Justice of England under King Henry VI and was a staunch supporter of the House of Lancaster during the Wars of the Roses. His legal treatise, "De Laudibus Legum Angliae" (In Praise of the Laws of England), is considered a seminal work on English constitutional law.

Another notable figure was Sir Nicholas Fortescue (c. 1543-1633), a member of Parliament and a wealthy landowner in Buckinghamshire. He played a significant role in the establishment of the Virginia Company, which aimed to colonize the New World, and was one of the early investors in the Jamestown settlement.

In the 18th century, the Fortescue family gained prominence through Lord Hugh Fortescue (1696-1782), a British politician and member of the House of Lords. He served as Lord Lieutenant of Devon and was a vocal supporter of the Whig party.

During the 19th century, Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue (1823-1898), the 1st Baron Carlingford, rose to prominence as a British politician and statesman. He held various positions in the government, including Chief Secretary for Ireland and Lord Privy Seal.

The Fortescue name has also been associated with notable military figures, such as Sir John Fortescue (1859-1933), a British Army officer and historian who wrote extensively on the British Army's campaigns and military history.

Throughout its long history, the Fortescue surname has been deeply rooted in English society, with its bearers leaving an indelible mark across various fields, including law, politics, business, and the military. The name's enduring legacy continues to be celebrated and preserved, reflecting the strength and resilience of its origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fortescue families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fortescue 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. Middlesex leads with 109 Fortescues recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.92x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 109 2.92x
Surrey 36 1.98x
Devon 34 4.37x
Northamptonshire 32 9.11x
Oxfordshire 26 11.27x
Hampshire 19 2.48x
Warwickshire 16 1.70x
Yorkshire 14 0.38x
Cambridgeshire 12 5.07x
Essex 12 1.63x
Nottinghamshire 10 1.99x
Gloucestershire 8 1.09x
Suffolk 8 1.76x
Kincardineshire 7 15.39x
Berkshire 6 2.14x
Channel Islands 6 5.42x
Leicestershire 4 0.97x
Huntingdonshire 3 4.04x
Orkney 3 7.30x
Staffordshire 3 0.24x
Cornwall 2 0.47x
Derbyshire 2 0.34x
Lanarkshire 2 0.17x
Sussex 2 0.32x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.44x
Kent 1 0.08x
Lincolnshire 1 0.17x
Norfolk 1 0.17x
Royal Navy 1 2.25x
West Lothian 1 1.78x
Worcestershire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 22 Fortescues recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.08x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 22 6.08x
Hackney London 12 5.73x
Hammersmith London 12 13.04x
Irchester 12 550.46x
Neithrop 12 154.84x
St Pancras London 12 3.99x
Lambeth 9 2.76x
Plymouth St Andrew 9 15.03x
St Marylebone London 9 4.51x
Maugersbury 8 1142.86x
Alveston 7 564.52x
Camberwell 7 2.93x
Ipswich St Clement 7 60.50x
Kensington London 7 3.37x
Radford 7 27.37x
St George Hanover Square 7 10.64x
Tormoham 7 21.28x
Little Gransden 6 1935.48x
Maryculter 6 437.96x
Portsea 6 4.00x
St Helier 6 16.65x
West Ham 6 3.69x
Wimbledon 6 29.35x
Winwick In Oundle 6 1578.95x
Batley 5 14.21x
Battersea 5 3.64x
Bethnal Green London 5 3.08x
Clerkenwell London 5 5.67x
Dawlish 5 86.21x
Eltisley 5 847.46x
Heybridge 5 233.64x
Leeds 5 2.39x
Oundle 5 127.23x
East Allington 4 597.01x
Edgbaston 4 13.69x
Filleigh 4 930.23x
Freshwater 4 114.29x
Hampstead London 4 6.88x
Kingston Lisle 4 930.23x
Leicester St Margaret 4 3.96x
Oxford St Clement 4 68.73x
Ryde 4 24.32x
Snaith Cowick 4 181.00x
Westminster St James 4 10.42x
Banbury 3 64.94x
Barnack 3 400.00x
Basford 3 12.93x
Chilvers Coton 3 77.52x
Holywell 3 277.78x
Kingston On Thames 3 6.86x
Orphir 3 230.77x
Oxford St Thomas 3 27.86x
Rugeley 3 33.15x
St George Bloomsbury 3 14.00x
Thurning 3 1250.00x
Barnwell St Andrew 2 606.06x
Birmingham 2 0.64x
Boconnoc 2 588.24x
Chelsea London 2 1.78x
Clapham 2 4.28x
Croydon 2 1.98x
Dalziel 2 15.38x
Glossop Dale 2 7.30x
Newington 2 1.45x
Southampton St Mary 2 4.15x
Christ Church Newgate 1 57.47x
Denton 1 161.29x
Devonport 1 11.19x
Huntingdon St Mary 1 53.76x
Laurencekirk 1 37.88x
Mildenhall 1 20.66x
Oxford St Giles 1 9.08x
Paddington London 1 0.73x
Ramsgate 1 4.81x
Ribbesford 1 24.63x
Royal Navy 1 2.63x
Shoreditch London 1 0.62x
St Michael Cambridge 1 144.93x
Twickenham 1 6.24x
Wantage 1 22.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 15
James 13
William 12
George 10
Charles 7
Edward 7
Francis 7
Arthur 6
Lewis 6
Frank 5
Albert 4
Herbert 4
Hugh 4
Henry 3
Nathaniel 3
Robert 3
Thomas 3
Walter 3
Cecil 2
Edwin 2
Frederick 2
Gerald 2
Harry 2
Joseph 2
Matthew 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
Sidney 2
B. 1
Bartholomew 1
Chas. 1
Chirle 1
Clarence 1
Dudley 1
Faithfull 1
Geo. 1
Geo.R. 1
Hannah 1
Howard 1
J.Charles 1
J.H.I. 1
Jno. 1
Octavius 1
Regnill 1
Ricd 1
Seymour 1
Stephen 1
Sydney 1
Theophilus 1
Wm.B. 1

FAQ

Fortescue surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fortescue surname in 1881?

In 1881, 376 people were recorded with the Fortescue surname. That placed it at #8,326 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fortescue surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 358 in 2016. That gives Fortescue a modern rank of #12,931.

What does the Fortescue surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "vigorous" or "powerful" stream.

What does the Fortescue map show?

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