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![Show Contents]() Forsey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The ancient and distinguished surname Forsey is of Old English origin. It is derived from "fosseg," meaning "dweller by the low-lying land near a dyke." Early Origins of the Forsey familyThe surname Forsey was first found in Durham, where the family was anciently seated as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed, but Saxon surnames survived and the name was first referenced in the 13th century, when the family held estates in that county. Early History of the Forsey familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Forsey research. Another 93 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1650, 1679, 1681, 1683 and 1705 are included under the topic Early Forsey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Forsey Spelling VariationsThe English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Forsey has been recorded under many different variations, including Forser, Forzer, Fouser, Fourzer, Forcer, Forsar, Forzar, Fousse, Foussard, Fors, Forse, Forsberg, Fosse, Forsey, Forsay and many more. Early Notables of the Forsey familyDistinguished members of the family include Francis Forcer the Elder (1650?-1705?), an English composer. He " is mentioned by Hawkins as the writer of many songs, five of which may be found in Playford's 'Choyce Ayres and Dialogues,' bk. ii. 1679, one in the edition of 1681, and...
Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Forsey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Forsey RankingIn Newfoundland, Canada, the name Forsey is the 435th most popular surname with an estimated 107 people with that name. 1
 Forsey migration to the United States | + |
For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Forsey or a variant listed above:
Forsey Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Jeremiah Forsey, who settled in Maryland in 1658
- Jeremiah Forsey, who arrived in Maryland in 1674 2
Forsey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Michael Forsey, who was naturalized in Iowa in 1868
| Forsey migration to New Zealand | + |
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Forsey Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- Mr. James Forsey, British settler arriving as Detachment of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Sir George Symour" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 26th November 1847 3
- Mrs. Harriet Forsey, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Sir George Symour" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 26th November 1847 3
| Contemporary Notables of the name Forsey (post 1700) | + |
- Brock L. Forsey (b. 1980), former American NFL football running back who played from 2003 to 2005
- Keith Forsey (b. 1948), English Academy Award and Golden Globe Award winning soundtrack composer, drummer, songwriter and record producer, perhaps best known for co-writing "Flashdance... What a Feeling" and for co-writing "Don't You (Forget About Me)", from The Breakfast Club
- Herbert Jack Forsey (1913-1998), Canadian NHL ice hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs (1942-1943)
- Stephen Forsey, co-founder of Greubel Forsey, a high-end watchmaking company in Switzerland in 2004
- Eugene Alfred Forsey PC CC FRSC (1904-1991), Newfoundland-born, Canadian Senator for Nepean, Ontario (1970-1979)
- Clayton Forsey MHA (b. 1953), Canadian politician, Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for Exploits (2005-)
| Historic Events for the Forsey family | + |
HMS Royal Oak - William J. Forsey, British Leading Signalman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 4
- Horace Stamp Forsey (1921-1939), British Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 4
- The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
- Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
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Forsey migration to the United States 
Forsey migration to New Zealand 
England
Scotland
