History of your Surname
Get access to Fortier family records.Start a free trial

Fortier Family History

Fortier Name Meaning

French:: occupational name for someone employed at a fortress or castle from an agent derivative of Old French fort ‘stronghold’ (from the adjective fort ‘strong’). variant of Forestier derived from forêt ‘forest’. Compare Forkey .

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


Similar surnames: Portier, Mortier, Fortner, Ferrier, Forestier, Forster, Forte

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Fortier family from?

You can see how Fortier families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Fortier family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Fortier families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1891 there were 5 Fortier families living in Staffordshire. This was about 50% of all the recorded Fortier's in United Kingdom. Staffordshire had the highest population of Fortier families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Fortier surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Fortier ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Fortier. 14% of Fortier men worked as a Laborer and 6% of Fortier women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Fortier were Truck Driver and Housekeeper. .

View Census Data for Fortier | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    14%
  • Salesman
    8%
  • Farmer
    5%
  • Truck Driver
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    6%
  • Teacher
    6%
  • Waitress
    6%
  • Housekeeper
    6%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Fortier family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 73,000 census records available for the last name Fortier. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Fortier census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Fortier

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Fortier. 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 Fortier immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 7,000 military records available for the last name Fortier. For the veterans among your Fortier ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Fortier military records

You've only scratched the surface of Fortier family history

Discover More

What is the average Fortier lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Fortier life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1946, and highest in 1941. The average life expectancy for Fortier in 1941 was 100, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Fortier

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Fortier family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Fortier last name

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