The Forsyth surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 8,450 people carried this name — #4,194 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 35,000 people counted. That is up 2% from 8,313 in 2000.

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In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 21 people named Forsyth.

10 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 4 départements, most often Pas-de-Calais.

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

Where they were born

Born outside France 10
Pas-de-Calais 5
Paris 3
Côte-d’Or 2
Oise 1

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

In Switzerland’s population statistics

21 people named Forsyth live in Switzerland.

They live in 2 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Geneva.

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

Where they live today

Geneva 17
Vaud 4

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In the Nordic population registers

43 people named Forsyth is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 43

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

In Scotland, 1880s

Forsyth was 10 in every 10,000 names in Scotland.

That is about 1 in 1,000. Its home there, in Guppy’s words: “South of the Forth and the Clyde.” He counted the more than 20,000 names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, taking Scotland as a whole, and listed only the names that reached 10 in every 10,000.

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), appendix: alphabetical list of the most frequent Scottish names, p. 588 — public domain · names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, per 10,000 for the whole country.

In Scotland’s registers today

Forsyth was recorded 125 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 191st most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 231. 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 print

Forsyth in American newspapers,
1831–1903.

Newspaper page from The Weekly Oskaloosa Herald carrying the name Forsyth
The Weekly Oskaloosa Herald 1877-09-27
Newspaper page from Alabama State Intelligencer carrying the name Forsyth
Alabama State Intelligencer 1831-03-16
Newspaper page from Omaha Daily Bee carrying the name Forsyth
Omaha Daily Bee 1903-12-16

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 10,184 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Forsyth in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2010s.

82,673 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Forsyth. The most, 14,868, date from the 1900s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Queensland, at 1.7 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Queensland 26,159
New South Wales 26,000
Victoria 15,754
South Australia 5,489
Western Australia 4,485
Tasmania 4,440
ACT (Canberra) 258
Northern Territory 19

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

Who carried it

People named Forsyth,
with a public archive behind them.

  • William Forsyth
    William Forsyth 1737–1804 · gardener
  • Robert Forsyth
    Robert Forsyth 1766–1846 · writer
  • Alexander John Forsyth
    Alexander John Forsyth 1769–1843 · inventor
  • John Forsyth
    John Forsyth 1780–1841 · lawyer
  • James Bell Forsyth
    James Bell Forsyth 1802–1869 · businessperson

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped — William Forsyth: unknown author, CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0); the others are in the public domain or CC0 · 219 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Forsyth,
in the records of 7 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 States1,546 records

1,546 records of the Forsyth name in the United States
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 478
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 312
  • Other U.S. records 756
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Lloyd A. Forsyth

    Born 1919 in Massachusetts. Enlisted 1942 at Fort Devens; checker from Middlesex County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 2000, buried at Glenwood Cemetery, Maynard, Massachusetts.

    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 Isabel Forsyth

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Majestic from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 16; teacher. From London, England; 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 Carl Lewis Forsyth

    Born 1930; from Iredell County, North Carolina. U.S. Army, field artillery cannoneer; declared dead 1950 in North Korea.

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

Showing 3 of 1,546 records for Forsyth in the United States.

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

Australia2,030 records

2,030 records of the Forsyth name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 948
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 389
  • Other Australian records 693
  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 Catherine Forsyth

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Atwick, sailing from London in 1837. Native of Airdrie, Lanarkshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1842.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Isabella Forsyth

    Died 1907 in Kempton, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1907.

    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 Forsyth

    Arrived in Victoria in 1856 aboard the Marco Polo, aged 27; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 2,030 records for Forsyth 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) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). 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); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada470 records

470 records of the Forsyth name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 331
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 47
  • Other Canadian records 92
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record George Forsyth

    Came to Ontario in 1877 aboard the Sarmatian, bound for Alma, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record William Forsyth

    Killed in 1867 at the Lawrencetown mine, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Mary Hepburn Forsyth

    Buried in 1978 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 90.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 3 of 470 records for Forsyth in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · 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. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom297 records

297 records of the Forsyth name in the United Kingdom
  • Stirling Council burial records 186
  • Scottish rolls of honour, First World War 58
  • Other British records 53
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record William Forsyth

    Born 1895 at Sandymoss; shoemaker. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921). Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918 (Seaforth Highlanders).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain); National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Freda Forsyth

    Died 1982, aged 76; buried at St Thomas Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Hannah Margaret Forsyth

    Will proved in 1927; of Burry Port.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 297 records for Forsyth in the United Kingdom.

Counts: Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · 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. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

New Zealand54 records

54 records of the Forsyth name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 43
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 8
  • Other New Zealand records 3
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Florence Anne Forsyth

    Died 1961, aged 70; 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 Alexander Farquahar Forsyth

    Died 1943, aged 69; buried at Ward Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record J. Forsyth

    New Zealand Infantry. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

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

Showing 3 of 54 records for Forsyth in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Waimakariri 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); Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

Netherlands4 records

4 records of the Forsyth name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 3
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 1
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Margaret Forsyth

    Married in 1659 in Rotterdam.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register John Forsyth

    In the population register of Grave; born 1888.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 4 records for Forsyth in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

France3 records

3 records of the Forsyth 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 Marcel Pierre Forsyth

    Born 1923 in Bèze; died 2001 in Bèze (Côte-d'Or).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Robert Georges Eugene Forsyth

    Born 1903 in Montjavoult (Oise); died 1989 in Levallois-Perret (Hauts-de-Seine).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 3 records for Forsyth 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).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Forsyth.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Forsyth 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 Forsyth volume
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