UK surname
A surname referring to someone who lived near or worked at a fort.
In the 1881 census there were 69 people recorded with the Fortman surname, ranking it #23,816 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #23,816 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, King's Lynn All Saints, South Lynn and St Mary Islington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fortman is 124 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 89.9%.
1881 census count
69
Ranked #23,816
Modern count
7
2016, ranked #37,967
Peak year
1911
124 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Fortman surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Fortman surname density by area, 1911 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 | 33 | #27,390 |
| 1861 | historical | 108 | #19,856 |
| 1881 | historical | 69 | #23,816 |
| 1891 | historical | 61 | #29,103 |
| 1901 | historical | 80 | #25,251 |
| 1911 | historical | 124 | #20,023 |
| 1997 | modern | 9 | #37,214 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 5 | #37,823 |
| 2001 | modern | 4 | #37,862 |
| 2002 | modern | 4 | #37,921 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 3 | #38,241 |
| 2005 | modern | 4 | #38,078 |
| 2006 | modern | 4 | #38,130 |
| 2007 | modern | 4 | #38,169 |
| 2008 | modern | 3 | #38,396 |
| 2009 | modern | 3 | #38,494 |
| 2010 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2011 | modern | 2 | #38,745 |
| 2012 | modern | 5 | #38,167 |
| 2013 | modern | 5 | #38,195 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 7 | #37,967 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, King's Lynn All Saints, South Lynn, St Mary Islington and Stroud, Whaddon, Longney, Brookthorpe, Harescombe, Haresfield, Standish, Moreton Valence, Saul, Fret. 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 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | King's Lynn All Saints, South Lynn | Norfolk |
| 4 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Stroud, Whaddon, Longney, Brookthorpe, Harescombe, Haresfield, Standish, Moreton Valence, Saul, Fret | Gloucestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Fortman 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 Fortman, 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 Fortman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Fortman 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, Fortman 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 Fortman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Fortman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Fortman is believed to have originated in Germany, specifically in the region of Franconia, during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German words "fort" meaning "away" and "man" referring to a person. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who had moved away from their place of origin or was a traveler.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fortman can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval documents from the 13th century. It mentions a certain "Heinricus Fortman" who was a landowner in the town of Würzburg, Bavaria, in the year 1268.
In the 14th century, the Fortman surname appears in the records of the city of Nuremberg, where a family of that name held prominent positions in the local government. A notable figure was Hans Fortman, who served as a member of the city council in the late 1300s.
During the Renaissance period, a scholar and humanist named Johannes Fortman (1490-1558) gained recognition for his contributions to the field of education. He was born in the town of Münster and later became a professor at the University of Cologne.
The Fortman name also had a presence in the Netherlands, as evidenced by the records of the Dutch East India Company. In the 17th century, a merchant named Pieter Fortman (1615-1678) was involved in the spice trade and made several voyages to the East Indies.
In the 19th century, a German artist named Wilhelm Fortman (1825-1892) gained recognition for his landscape paintings, which often depicted scenes from his native Franconia region. He is considered one of the foremost representatives of the Düsseldorf school of painting.
While the name Fortman has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. However, the historical records mentioned above provide a glimpse into the origins and early occurrences of this surname in Europe.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fortman 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 20 Fortmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.97x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 20 | 2.97x |
| Yorkshire | 9 | 1.35x |
| Norfolk | 7 | 6.76x |
| Worcestershire | 6 | 6.83x |
| Leicestershire | 5 | 6.70x |
| Warwickshire | 5 | 2.95x |
| Essex | 4 | 3.01x |
| Kent | 4 | 1.74x |
| Sussex | 4 | 3.52x |
| Surrey | 3 | 0.91x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.13x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.44x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. South Lynn in Norfolk leads with 7 Fortmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 598.29x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| South Lynn | 7 | 598.29x |
| Bromley London | 5 | 33.76x |
| Leeds | 5 | 13.28x |
| Market Harborough | 5 | 1470.59x |
| Hove | 4 | 80.32x |
| Islington London | 4 | 6.13x |
| Kidderminster Borough | 4 | 77.82x |
| West Ham | 4 | 13.64x |
| Friern Barnet | 3 | 202.70x |
| Scarborough | 3 | 49.51x |
| Chelsea London | 2 | 9.86x |
| Foleshill | 2 | 111.73x |
| Mitcham | 2 | 96.62x |
| Redditch | 2 | 112.36x |
| St George Hanover Square | 2 | 16.86x |
| St Martin In Fields | 2 | 49.63x |
| Bromley | 1 | 28.57x |
| Fetcham | 1 | 909.09x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 2.65x |
| Kenilworth | 1 | 104.17x |
| Maidstone | 1 | 14.62x |
| Milverton | 1 | 200.00x |
| Minster In Sheppey | 1 | 26.32x |
| Oversley | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Rochester St Margaret | 1 | 41.32x |
| Sculcoates | 1 | 9.46x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.85x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 3.70x |
| Willenhall | 1 | 23.47x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Fortman 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 Fortman 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 Fortman households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 13 |
| Housekeeper | 2 |
| Laborer | 2 |
| Nurse | 2 |
| Apprentice | 1 |
| Assistant | 1 |
| Booksellers Assistant | 1 |
| Boy | 1 |
| Butchers Apprentice | 1 |
| Cab Driver | 1 |
| Carter (Coachman 6/2) | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Coachman | 1 |
| Cook Domestic | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| Fishmonger | 1 |
| Gardener (N D) | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| General Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Genl Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Hay & Straw Dealer | 1 |
| Infringer | 1 |
| Inft | 1 |
| Lab Chemical Wks | 1 |
| Labourer (General) | 1 |
| Lace Maker | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Master Mariner Unemployed | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Pavior | 1 |
| Police Constable | 1 |
| Retired Farmer | 1 |
| Saddler | 1 |
| Scullery Maid Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Shopman | 1 |
| Solicitors Articled Clerk | 1 |
| Traveller (Books) | 1 |
| Tripe Dresser (Provis Dlr) | 1 |
| Visitor | 1 |
| Warehouseman | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
| Worsted Spinner | 1 |
| Worsted Winder | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 69 people were recorded with the Fortman surname. That placed it at #23,816 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Fortman a modern rank of #37,967.
A surname referring to someone who lived near or worked at a fort.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fortman 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.