Contents [hide]

Forte History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Forte History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Germany
Italy

The family name Forte is thought to be of Norman origins. Originally, Forte was a name given to a strong, brave, or hardy person as the name was originally derived from the Old French fort, which meant strong. Another derivation suggests that the name is a local surname and it indicates that its bearer lived near a fortress or stronghold. The former is more common, but time has confused the two derivations and etymologists now disagree on which is appropriate in a given instance.

Early Origins of the Forte family

The surname Forte was first found in Lancashire where they were granted lands by William the Conqueror for their assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D. They were Lords of the manor of this estate. They are believed to be descended from the Norman noble, William de Fortibus, Earl of Albemarle, who married Isobel, Countess of Devon. This line eventually became Earls of Lancaster, and conjecturally the junior lines assumed the name Forte.

Early History of the Forte family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Forte research. Another 56 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Forte History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Forte Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Forte have been found, including Fort, Forte, Forts, Fortes, Foort, Foorte and many more.

Early Notables of the Forte family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Forte of Lancashire

Forte Ranking

In the United States, the name Forte is the 2,864^th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Forte is ranked the 5,113^rd most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 2

Forte migration to the United States +

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Forte were among those contributors:

Forte Settlers in United States in the 16th Century

Anton Forte, who settled in Veragua in 1535

Forte Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Marmaduke Forte, who settled in Maryland in 1653
Mary Forte, who arrived in Virginia in 1664

Forte Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Anonzo Forte, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1815
Anton Forte, who landed in Veragua in 1835 3
Agostino Forte, aged 29, who settled in America from Italy, in 1893

Forte Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Adelaide Forte, aged 14, who landed in America from Napoli, in 1904
Alberiza Forte, aged 19, who immigrated to the United States from Campobasso, Castelpetroso, in 1908
Addolorota Forte, aged 27, who immigrated to America from Campobasso, Italy, in 1908
Adele Forte, aged 15, who immigrated to the United States from Napoli, Italy, in 1909
Adruno Forte, aged 59, who landed in America from Menturni, Italy, in 1910
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Forte (post 1700) +

Merrill Maurice "Mo" Forte (1947-2021), American football player and coach from Hannibal, Missouri
John Forte (1918-1966), American comic book artist
Joe Forte, American writer and painter
Allen Forte (b. 1926), American music theorist and musicologist
Charles Forte (1908-2007), Baron Forte, the famous hotelier, founder of Forte Group plc, a British hotel and restaurant company in 1935
Jonathan Forte (b. 1985), English footballer
Francesco Forte (1929-2022), Italian politician, academic and economist, member of the Socialist Party
Will Forte (b. 1970), Saturday Night Live comedian
Rocco Forte (b. 1945), son of Charles Forte, Baron Forte who inherited the hotel business
Dieter Forte (1935-2019), German author and playwright
... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Forte Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fortis et audax
Motto Translation: Strong and brave

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)