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Foreshew Family History

Foreshew Surname Meaning

The distribution of the name Forshaw suggests it might have a different origin than Forshaw, which is a Lancs surname. It is possible that it originates from Forshaw Heath in Warwicks. However, the early bearer Willelmus Fowrskeschawe in 1381, recorded in the Poll Tax for Worcester (Worcs), may represent a mistranscription of Fowrekeschawe. This indicates that the Lancs surname was established outside of the county from an early date.

The early forms of Forshaw Heath, such as Fossawe in 1309, 1316, and Fosshawe in 1387 and 1609, suggest that it is unlikely to be the origin of the 1381 bearer mentioned above. These variations underscore the potential complexities in tracing the name's roots.

Additionally, the lost place Forshaw in Rainford (Lancs) is worth mentioning. This location was likely named using Old English elements, specifically fēower meaning ‘four’, āc meaning ‘oak’, and sceaga meaning ‘wood’. This etymology provides a more plausible origin for the surname Forshaw.

Source: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain, 2021


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Where is the Foreshew family from?

You can see how Foreshew families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Foreshew family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1840 and 1920. The most Foreshew families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 5 Foreshew families living in Gloucestershire. This was about 21% of all the recorded Foreshew's in United Kingdom. Gloucestershire and 1 other county had the highest population of Foreshew families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Foreshew surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Foreshew ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Foreshew. 100% of Foreshew women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Foreshew | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    100%

What Foreshew family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Foreshew. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Foreshew census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

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Passenger Lists

There are 59 immigration records available for the last name Foreshew. 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.

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Draft Cards

There are 30 military records available for the last name Foreshew. For the veterans among your Foreshew ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Foreshew lifespan?

Between 1978 and 2001, in the United States, Foreshew life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1978, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Foreshew in 1978 was 68, and 90 in 2001.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Foreshew

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Foreshew 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.

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