This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Fordham family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Fordham Family History

Fordham Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from any of the places in Cambridgeshire, Essex, and Norfolk named Fordham, from Old English ford ‘ford’ + hām ‘homestead’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Fordham family from?

You can see how Fordham families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Fordham family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Fordham families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 939 Fordham families living in London. This was about 36% of all the recorded Fordham's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Fordham families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Fordham surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Fordham ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Fordham. 11% of Fordham men worked as a General Labourer and 71% of Fordham women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Fordham were Gardener and Private Means.

View Census Data for Fordham | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    11%
  • Builders Labourer
    6%
  • Bricklayer
    4%
  • Gardener
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    71%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Private Means
    2%

What Fordham family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 83,000 census records available for the last name Fordham. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Fordham census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Fordham

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Fordham. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Fordham immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 8,000 military records available for the last name Fordham. For the veterans among your Fordham ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Fordham military records

You've only scratched the surface of Fordham family history

Discover More

What is the average Fordham lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Fordham life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1958, and highest in 1994. The average life expectancy for Fordham in 1943 was 62, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Fordham

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Fordham ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Fordham family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial