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Fortescue Family History

Fortescue Surname Meaning

English (of Norman origin): nickname from Old French fort ‘strong’ + escu ‘shield’.

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


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Fortescue family from?

You can see how Fortescue families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Fortescue family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Fortescue families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 111 Fortescue families living in London. This was about 27% of all the recorded Fortescue's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Fortescue families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Fortescue 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 Fortescue ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Precision Grinder and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Fortescue. 25% of Fortescue men worked as a Precision Grinder and 79% of Fortescue women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Fortescue were Aircraft Detal Fitter and Cook.

View Census Data for Fortescue | 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

  • Precision Grinder
    25%
  • Motor Engineer
    25%
  • Incapacitated
    25%
  • Aircraft Detal Fitter
    25%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    79%
  • Private Means
    7%
  • Housewife
    5%
  • Cook
    4%

What Fortescue family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 10,000 census records available for the last name Fortescue. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Fortescue census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Fortescue

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Fortescue. 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 Fortescue immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 987 military records available for the last name Fortescue. For the veterans among your Fortescue ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Fortescue military records

You've only scratched the surface of Fortescue family history

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What is the average Fortescue lifespan?

Between 1966 and 2004, in the United States, Fortescue life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1975, and highest in 1990. The average life expectancy for Fortescue in 1966 was 65, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Fortescue

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Fortescue 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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