NameCensus.

UK surname

Forty

An English surname derived from the number forty or related to a place name.

In the 1881 census there were 288 people recorded with the Forty surname, ranking it #9,988 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 203, ranked #19,396, down from #9,988 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Marcle, Much, St Marylebone and Kempley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Devon, Blaby and Oadby and Wigston.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Forty is 319 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 29.5%.

1881 census count

288

Ranked #9,988

Modern count

203

2016, ranked #19,396

Peak year

1901

319 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Forty had 288 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,988 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 203 in 2016, ranked #19,396.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 319 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Forty surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Forty surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Forty 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 264 #8,419
1861 historical 255 #9,699
1881 historical 288 #9,988
1891 historical 302 #11,058
1901 historical 319 #11,166
1911 historical 299 #11,475
1997 modern 224 #16,392
1998 modern 231 #16,555
1999 modern 229 #16,744
2000 modern 235 #16,423
2001 modern 223 #16,765
2002 modern 224 #17,042
2003 modern 220 #17,033
2004 modern 219 #17,180
2005 modern 203 #17,961
2006 modern 200 #18,294
2007 modern 205 #18,194
2008 modern 211 #17,997
2009 modern 220 #17,911
2010 modern 226 #17,942
2011 modern 218 #18,206
2012 modern 204 #18,973
2013 modern 213 #18,743
2014 modern 212 #18,945
2015 modern 211 #18,906
2016 modern 203 #19,396

Geography

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Where Fortys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Marcle, Much, St Marylebone, Kempley, Cheltenham and Stretton Grandison, Yarkhill, Ashperton, Munsley, Putley, Woolhope, Upton Bishop, Weston Beggard, St. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Devon, Blaby, Oadby and Wigston, Vale of White Horse and Purbeck. 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 Marcle, Much Herefordshire
2 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
3 Kempley Gloucestershire
4 Cheltenham Gloucestershire
5 Stretton Grandison, Yarkhill, Ashperton, Munsley, Putley, Woolhope, Upton Bishop, Weston Beggard, St Herefordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Devon 006 East Devon
2 Blaby 008 Blaby
3 Oadby and Wigston 007 Oadby and Wigston
4 Vale of White Horse 016 Vale of White Horse
5 Purbeck 004 Purbeck

Forenames

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First names often paired with Forty

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Forty

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Forty, 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 Forty surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Forty 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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Forty is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Forty is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Forty falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Forty is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Forty

The surname Forty is of English origin and is believed to have emerged during the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. It is likely derived from the Old English word "feortig," which means "forty," suggesting it may have been an occupational surname for someone who collected or paid a tax or fee of forty pence or shillings.

Alternatively, the name could have originated as a locational surname, referring to someone who lived near a place or landmark associated with the number forty, such as a milestone or a boundary marker. In some cases, it may have been a descriptive surname given to someone who lived at or near the fortieth house or property in a particular area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Forty can be found in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1272, where a person named William Forty is mentioned. Another early reference is in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, which lists a John Forty.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Forty appeared in various historical records and documents, such as parish registers and court records. Notable individuals with this surname include:

1. John Forty (c. 1570-1642), an English clergyman and author of religious works. 2. William Forty (c. 1600-1670), a merchant and landowner from Somerset, England. 3. Elizabeth Forty (b. 1632), who is recorded in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Warwick, England. 4. Thomas Forty (1686-1758), a farmer and landowner from Gloucestershire, England. 5. Mary Forty (1745-1821), a philanthropist and benefactor from Oxfordshire, England, who bequeathed a significant sum to support local charities and schools.

While the surname Forty is relatively uncommon, it has persisted throughout England and other parts of the British Isles over the centuries. Some variations in spelling, such as Fortye or Fortie, have also been documented in historical records.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Forty families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Forty 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. Gloucestershire leads with 89 Fortys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.99x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 89 15.99x
Middlesex 50 1.76x
Herefordshire 38 32.65x
Oxfordshire 18 10.27x
Worcestershire 16 4.32x
Warwickshire 14 1.96x
Buckinghamshire 8 4.66x
Hampshire 8 1.38x
Staffordshire 7 0.73x
Somerset 6 1.31x
Bedfordshire 5 3.40x
Lancashire 5 0.15x
Surrey 4 0.29x
Berkshire 3 1.41x
Brecknockshire 3 5.29x
Channel Islands 3 3.57x
Cheshire 2 0.32x
Durham 2 0.24x
Montgomeryshire 2 3.08x
Wiltshire 2 0.80x
Essex 1 0.18x
Glamorgan 1 0.20x
Kent 1 0.10x
Leicestershire 1 0.32x
Sussex 1 0.21x
Yorkshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cheltenham in Gloucestershire leads with 25 Fortys recorded in 1881 and an index of 58.21x.

Place Total Index
Cheltenham 25 58.21x
Much Marcle 13 1547.62x
Kempley 11 4074.07x
Lower Swell 11 2750.00x
St Marylebone London 10 6.60x
Kensington London 9 5.70x
Oxford St Giles 9 107.66x
Buckingham 8 229.23x
Putley 8 4000.00x
Bishopstoke 7 469.80x
Hammersmith London 7 10.01x
Ross 7 151.19x
Upton On Severn 7 288.07x
Wolverhampton 7 9.50x
Gloucester Barton St 6 184.05x
Kingscote 6 2307.69x
Pauntley 6 2857.14x
Weston Super Mare 6 51.99x
Worcester All Sts 6 279.07x
Aston 5 2.54x
Birmingham 5 2.10x
Bristol St James St Paul 5 26.94x
Warborough 5 746.27x
Bromley London 4 6.41x
Oxford St Ebbe 4 77.52x
Shefford 4 380.95x
Tewkesbury 4 80.48x
Weston Under Penyard 4 487.80x
Charlton Kings 3 77.92x
Llangunider 3 84.75x
Mitcham 3 34.32x
Paddington London 3 2.87x
St Peter Port 3 19.28x
Stow On The Wold 3 241.94x
Balsall 2 178.57x
Cradley 2 117.65x
Fairford 2 134.23x
Hackney London 2 1.26x
Leamington Priors 2 11.36x
Leigh 2 44.44x
Linton In Newent 2 222.22x
Liverpool 2 0.98x
Manchester 2 1.32x
Moreton In Marsh 2 143.88x
Newbury 2 29.33x
Pool 2 40.73x
Shoreditch London 2 1.63x
St George Hanover Square 2 4.00x
St George In East London 2 7.49x
St Giles In Fields London 2 14.37x
St Pancras London 2 0.88x
Stockport Etchells 2 150.38x
Swindon 2 10.27x
Upper Slaughter 2 800.00x
Belgrave 1 14.08x
Bexley 1 11.68x
Biggleswade 1 20.79x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.38x
Bray 1 15.97x
Cardiff St Mary 1 3.67x
Cirencester 1 13.26x
Darlington 1 3.07x
Droitwich St Nicholas 1 72.99x
Dymock 1 75.19x
Frant 1 29.50x
Lugwardine 1 135.14x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.66x
Norwood 1 15.41x
Overton 1 71.94x
Poplar London 1 1.87x
Ratcliffe London 1 6.38x
Richmond 1 5.16x
Salford 1 1.01x
Scarborough 1 3.91x
St Martin In Fields 1 5.89x
Upton Bishop 1 147.06x
West Ham 1 0.81x
Wotton Under Edge 1 30.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Elizabeth 14
Jane 9
Ann 7
Sarah 7
Eliza 6
Emily 6
Alice 5
Martha 5
Annie 4
Ellen 4
Louisa 4
Agnes 3
Caroline 3
Emma 3
Hannah 3
Maria 3
Amy 2
Edith 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Georgina 2
Gertrude 2
Henrietta 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Mabel 2
Matilda 2
Maud 2
Anne 1
Clara 1
Eleanor 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Eva 1
Hanah 1
Hariet 1
Harriett 1
Isabella 1
Isac 1
James 1
Jennie 1
Letitia 1
Mariam 1
Milbro 1
Minnie 1
Octavia 1
Pamela 1
Priscilla 1
Whilemina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 15
William 14
James 12
George 11
Charles 9
Joseph 8
Albert 5
Edward 5
Henry 5
Walter 5
Thomas 4
Arthur 3
Ernest 3
Josiah 3
Alfred 2
Daniel 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Harry 2
Archer 1
Bertie 1
Bob 1
Cecil 1
Courtney 1
Earnest 1
Emmanuel 1
F. 1
Frederick 1
Gerald 1
Grainger 1
Hedley 1
Herbert 1
Ira 1
Isac 1
J. 1
Job 1
Michael 1
Richard 1
Richd. 1
Robert 1
Sydney 1
T.H. 1
Theodore 1

FAQ

Forty surname: questions and answers

How common was the Forty surname in 1881?

In 1881, 288 people were recorded with the Forty surname. That placed it at #9,988 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Forty surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 203 in 2016. That gives Forty a modern rank of #19,396.

What does the Forty surname mean?

An English surname derived from the number forty or related to a place name.

What does the Forty map show?

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