The Forde surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 5,031 people carried this name — #6,713 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 58,500 people counted. That is up 12% from 4,480 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Forde surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘at the ford’.

An early record he cites: Richard de la Forde, Norfolk, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Ford and Forde.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 295 · public domain.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 154 births for the Forde name in 1890.

They were registered in all four provinces, most of all in Connacht. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 6,800 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. The count includes the spelling Ford.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they were born, 1890

Connacht 65
Munster 41
Leinster 26
Ulster 22

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In the Nordic population registers

1,076 people named Forde is counted in Norway.

Norway publishes only surnames with 200 or more bearers.

Counted, by country

Norway (2025) 1,076

Statistics Norway (SSB, ssb.no), table 12891, 2025 — CC BY 4.0.

In Scotland’s registers today

Forde was recorded 13 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 1564th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

In 1790, Forde was counted together with Ford: 383 families in all.

Each family is counted by its head. About 2,185 people lived in those households, 5.7 to a family on average. The census counted these spellings together: Ford, Foard, Foord, Foords, Forde, Fordes, Fords, Fourd. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Maryland 75
Connecticut 60
Massachusetts 56
South Carolina 41
New York 32
Virginia 32
Pennsylvania 25
North Carolina 23
Maine 18
New Hampshire 13
Vermont 7
Rhode Island 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 240 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Forde in American newspapers,
1902–1919.

Newspaper page from The Portland Daily Press carrying the name Forde
The Portland Daily Press 1902-06-20
Newspaper page from Grand Forks Herald carrying the name Forde
Grand Forks Herald 1919-07-17
Newspaper page from The Pioneer Express carrying the name Forde
The Pioneer Express 1908-06-05

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 38,890 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Forde in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2010s.

158,137 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Forde. The most, 100,648, date from the 1940s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in the Northern Territory, at 3.7 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 52,344
Queensland 45,527
Victoria 21,933
Western Australia 11,720
South Australia 11,528
Tasmania 9,952
ACT (Canberra) 3,347
Northern Territory 1,139

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Forde.

Who carried it

People named Forde,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Hélène Niel d. 1969
  • Ann Forde d. 1816
  • Féodora Kathleen Alice Forde d. 1996
  • Sophia Blacker d. 1829
  • Elizabeth Forde d. 1736
  • Matthew Forde d. 1729

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Forde,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States771 records

771 records of the Forde name in the United States
  • U.S. alien registration index, 1940–1955 226
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 218
  • Other U.S. records 327
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record John F. Forde

    Born 1919 in New York. Enlisted 1941 at Jamaica; machinist from Queens County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1999, buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Thomas Forde

    Born 1903 in Irish Free State. Enlisted 1942 at Fort Jay Governors Island, New York; porter. U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II; died 1965, buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Bridget Forde

    Arrived at New York in 1836 aboard the Emulous from Liverpool, aged 17; servant. From Gallway, Ireland; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 771 records for Forde in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia376 records

376 records of the Forde name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 171
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 95
  • Other Australian records 110
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Kate Forde

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Blackfriar, sailing from Kingston in 1851. Native of Wicklow. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1852. Married 1852 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 23.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record William Forde

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Waverley, sailing from Kingston in 1841. Native of Armagh. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1847.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Bridget Forde

    Arrived in Victoria in 1854 aboard the Kent, aged 27; Irish.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 376 records for Forde in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Norway336 records

336 records of the Forde name in Norway Norway's 1910 census
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Marie Førde

    Census of 1910: Solheim, Brønnøy; seamstress, born 1885 in Brønnøy.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Andreas Førde

    Census of 1910: Førde, Bremanger; of independent means, born 1833 in Nøstdal S.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Andreas Førde

    Census of 1910: Rønvik øvre, Bodin; farmer, born 1861 in Gildeskaal.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)

Showing 3 of 336 records for Forde in Norway.

Counts: Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Ireland73 records

73 records of the Forde name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Catherine Forde

    Died 1964, aged 92; buried at Rakerin, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Margaret Forde

    Died 1949, aged 83; buried at Killererin (Old), Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Bridget Forde

    Died 1925, aged 83; buried at Eskerstephens, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 73 records for Forde in Ireland.

Counts: Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Canada38 records

38 records of the Forde name in Canada
  • City of Niagara Falls (Ontario) cemetery records 11
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 9
  • Other Canadian records 18
  1. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Nicholas Forde

    Left New York in 1783 aboard the Ranger, bound for Port Mattoon, aged 60.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record William Herbert Forde

    Buried in 1978 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 70.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Robert Henry Forde

    Buried in 1965 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 47.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.

Showing 3 of 38 records for Forde in Canada.

Counts: City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

New Zealand15 records

15 records of the Forde name in New Zealand Christchurch City cemetery records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Kathleen Elizabeth Forde

    Died 1994, aged 77; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Patrick Gilbert Forde

    Died 1978, aged 87; buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary Forde

    Died 1894, aged 21; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 15 records for Forde in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

United Kingdom5 records

5 records of the Forde name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 3
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record James Forde

    Buried in 1852 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 25.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record J. Forde

    Middlesex Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 2 of 5 records for Forde in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

France3 records

3 records of the Forde name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Afred Forde

    Born 1917 in Vieux Fort (Sainte-Lucie); died 1999 in Cayenne (Guyane).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Alfred Gilles Forde

    Born 1902 in Béziers (Hérault); died 1980 in Nice (Alpes-Maritimes).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 3 records for Forde in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Other spellings of this name

The same name, spelled another way.

Spellings that H. B. Guppy (England and Wales, 1890) or the Registrar-General for Ireland (births index of 1890) counted as one name together with Forde.

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Forde.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Forde is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Forde volume
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