Forte History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Germany
Italy

From the ancient and picturesque Italian region of Venice emerged a variety of distinguished names, including the notable surname Forte. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adopt a second name to identify themselves as populations grew and travel became more frequent. The process of adopting fixed hereditary surnames was not complete until the modern era, but the use of hereditary family names in Italy began in the 10th and 11th centuries. Italian hereditary surnames were developed according to fairly general principles and they are characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. Although the most traditional type of family name found in the region of Venice is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name, local surnames are also found. Local names, which are the least frequent of the major types of surnames found in Italy, are derived from a place-name where the original bearer once resided or held land. Often Italian local surnames bore the prefix "di," which signifies emigration from one place to another, but does not necessarily denote nobility. The Forte family lived in Ferrara, one of the more prosperous cities at this early time. Records are found in 1322, when the Fortiboni family moved from Ferrara to Cesena.

Early Origins of the Forte family

The surname Forte was first found in Ferrara, a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. History dates the city back to 753. Records are found in 1322, when the Fortiboni family moved from Ferrara to Cesena.

Early History of the Forte family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Forte research. The years 1419, 1465, 1508, 1590 and 1759 are included under the topic Early Forte History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Forte Spelling Variations

In comparison with other European surnames, Italian surnames have a surprising number of forms. They reflect the regional variations and the many dialects of the Italian language, each with its own distinctive features. For example, in Northern Italy the typical Italian surname suffix is "i", whereas in Southern Italy it is "o". Additionally, spelling changes frequently occurred because medieval scribes and church officials often spelled names as they sounded rather than according to any specific spelling rules. The spelling variations in the name Forte include Forti, Forte, Fort, Fortis, Lo Forte, Fortezza, Fortiboni, Fortini, Fortino, Fortin, Forteguerri and many more.

Early Notables of the Forte family

Prominent among members of the family was

Niccol Forteguerri, a Cardinal and diplomat in Pistoia born in 1419. He earned his degree in canon law at the University of Bologna and went on to become an ecclesiastic. Antonio Forteguerri was a man...
Pier-Lorenzo Forteguerri was mayor of Bologna. Francesco Forti was Captain under Enrico II, King of France. Nicolo Forteguerri was Governor of the province of Viterbo and became Bishop of Teano, and C...

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 +

A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Forte:

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
Francesco Forte (1929-2022), Italian politician, academic and economist, member of the Socialist Party
Daniele Antonio Forte (b. 1990), Italian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Turris
Bruno Forte (b. 1949), Italian theologian and ecclesiastic
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.)

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)