Fortey Family History

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’.