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Fortey Family History

Fortey Surname Meaning

From one or more of the numerous minor places so called, such as the lost Forty Green in Hanley Castle (Worcs), which is recorded thus in 1789, Forthay in North Nibley (Gloucs), recorded as la Fortheye in 1248, Forty Hill in Enfield (Middx), recorded as Fortyehill, Fortye Green in 1610, The Forty in Cricklade (Wilts), recorded as Vorty in 1841, and Forty Green in Epping (Essex), recorded as Forteye in the 13th century.

The place-names derive from Old English *forð-ēg ‘island or peninsula which projects (into surrounding marshland or low-lying ground)’.

This term is a compound of forð ‘forward’ + ēg ‘island’.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


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Where is the Fortey family from?

You can see how Fortey families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Fortey family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Fortey families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 18 Fortey families living in Warwickshire. This was about 23% of all the recorded Fortey's in United Kingdom. Warwickshire had the highest population of Fortey families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Fortey 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 Fortey 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 Fortey. 25% of Fortey men worked as a General Labourer and 77% of Fortey women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Fortey were Gardener and Private Means.

View Census Data for Fortey | 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
    25%
  • Steel Erector
    25%
  • Small Electrical Motor Fitter
    25%
  • Gardener
    25%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    77%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    7%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Private Means
    3%

What Fortey family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Fortey. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Fortey census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Fortey

Passenger Lists

There are 327 immigration records available for the last name Fortey. 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 Fortey immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 256 military records available for the last name Fortey. For the veterans among your Fortey ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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You've only scratched the surface of Fortey family history

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What is the average Fortey lifespan?

Between 1964 and 2000, in the United States, Fortey life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1993, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Fortey in 1964 was 53, and 77 in 2000.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Fortey

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Fortey 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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