The Forman surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 11,894 people carried this name — #3,015 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 24,800 people counted. That is down 3% from 12,202 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Forman surname

A surname originating as an occupation, a spelling variant of Foreman.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Forman» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a baptismal name, from a given name: ‘the son of Forman’.

An early record he cites: Willelmus Forman, 1379 — Poll Tax, West Riding of Yorkshire.

His entry covers Forman, Foreman and Formon.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 296 · public domain.

In Poland’s population register

65 people named Forman have a registered home in Poland.

Of the 87 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 6 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Greater Poland.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Greater Poland 41
Kuyavian-Pomeranian 8
Lubusz 7
Lesser Poland 5
Podlaskie 2
Silesian 2

PESEL register, Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland (dane.gov.pl) — CC0 · living people by voivodeship of permanent residence, 20 January 2026.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 48 people named Forman.

1 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 13 départements, most often Paris.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 1
Paris 19
Pas-de-Calais 9
La Réunion 5
Deux-Sèvres 3
Yvelines 2
Bouches-du-Rhône 2
Haute-Savoie 1
Pyrénées-Orientales 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 37 people named Forman live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Neuquén.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Neuquén 26
Buenos Aires Province 11

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Forman was found among the farmers of Lincolnshire: 11 in every 10,000.

Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Lincolnshire 11

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In print

Forman in American newspapers,
1879–1911.

Newspaper page from The Hattiesburg News carrying the name Forman
The Hattiesburg News 1911-01-30
Newspaper page from The New Orleans Daily Democrat carrying the name Forman
The New Orleans Daily Democrat 1879-07-04
Newspaper page from The New Orleans Daily Democrat carrying the name Forman
The New Orleans Daily Democrat 1879-07-18

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 109,955 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Forman in Australian newspapers,
1840s–2000s.

5,520 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Forman. The most, 1,400, date from the 1930s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Western Australia, at 3.1 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Western Australia 1,466
New South Wales 1,414
Victoria 1,162
Queensland 882
South Australia 375
Tasmania 171
ACT (Canberra) 29
Northern Territory 2

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

Who carried it

People named Forman,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Andrew Forman
    Andrew Forman 1465–1521 · Catholic priest
  • John Forman d. 1556 · politician
  • Charles Forman d. 1739 · secretary
  • William Forman d. 1829 · ironmaster
  • William Forman d. 1829 · ironmaster
  • Richard Forman d. 1794 · ironmaster

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Forman,
in the records of 9 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 States2,569 records

2,569 records of the Forman name in the United States
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 1,134
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 544
  • Other U.S. records 891
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record John H. Forman

    Born 1918 in Maryland. Enlisted 1945 at Baltimore; painter from Baltimore City. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1998, buried at Oakland Cemetery, Maryland.

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

    Arrived at New York in 1891 aboard the Gallia from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 18; servant. From Poland, Russia; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record William Stannard Forman

    Born 1936; from Pipestone, Minnesota. U.S. Navy, pilot; declared dead 1966 in North Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 2,569 records for Forman in the United States.

Counts: NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). 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); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia275 records

275 records of the Forman name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 187
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 35
  • Other Australian records 53
  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 Joseph Forman

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Lloyds, arriving 1833; ticket of leave 1843.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)
  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 Margaret Forman

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Sir Robert Seppings, sailing from Woolwich in 1852. Native of Leith, Midlothian.

    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 John Forman

    Arrived in Victoria in 1853 aboard the Northumbria, aged 22; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 275 records for Forman in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (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).

Netherlands257 records

257 records of the Forman name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 135
  • Dutch population registers 71
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 51
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Jacques Alexander Francois Forman

    Born 1873 in Grave. Died 1873 in Grave.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Gerda Forman

    Born 1916 in Rotterdam. Married in 1936 in Rotterdam.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Teunis Forman

    Born 1882 in Ridderkerk. Married in 1904 in Krimpen aan de Lek.

    Open Archives, Nationaal Archief Rijksarchief Zuid-Holland (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Streekarchief Midden-Holland (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 257 records for Forman in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Canada64 records

64 records of the Forman name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 42
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 9
  • Other Canadian records 13
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Nora Forman

    Buried in 1969 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 84.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record James Mackerell Forman

    Died 2000, aged 84; buried at St. Vital Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Edmond Walter Forman

    Died 1941 in Kentville, Kings, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 64 records for Forman in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

France26 records

26 records of the Forman 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 Yvonne Marcelline Forman

    Born 1911 in Cravant; died 1995 in Meung-sur-Loire (Loiret).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Gerard Leon Michel Forman

    Born 1954 in Harnes; died 1990 in Harnes (Pas-de-Calais).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Maurice Cyrille Forman

    Born 1905 in Harnes (Pas-de-Calais); died 1979 in Paris.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 26 records for Forman 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).

New Zealand17 records

17 records of the Forman name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 14
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 2
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Joseph Forman

    Buried in 1945 at Lyttelton Anglican Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury, aged 73.

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

    Died 1998, aged 75; buried at Fairhall Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Forman

    Buried in 1871 at Shortland Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 30.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 17 records for Forman in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District 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).

Belgium8 records

8 records of the Forman name in Belgium
  • Belgian population registers 5
  • Belgian civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 3
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Palmer Forman

    Died 1873 in Kortijk.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Kortrijk (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Carolina Florentina Forman

    In the population register of St Jans Molenbeek; born 1868 in St Jans Molenbeek.

    Open Archives, Erfgoedcel Denderland (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 8 records for Forman in Belgium.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

United Kingdom7 records

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

    Died 1902, aged 47; buried at Logie Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Catherine Forman

    Buried in 1820 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 78.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 2 of 7 records for Forman 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. · Stirling Council. 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).

Finland1 record

1 record of the Forman name in Finland Finland's war dead, 1939–1945
  1. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record Pentti Aarne Forman

    Born 1922 in Kirvu. Died in 1944 during Finland's wars of 1939–1945; buried in Luumäki.

    Kansallisarkisto, via WarSampo (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Kansallisarkisto, via WarSampo (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Forman.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Forman 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 Forman volume
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