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Show ContentsForde History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The saga of the name Forde follows a line reaching back through history to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It was a name for someone who worked as a keeper of the ford or river crossing. 1

Early Origins of the Forde family

The surname Forde was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where Bruma de la forda was listed at Winton, Hampshire. 2 Years later in Somerset, Eadric æt Fordan was listed as an Old English Byname, 1100-1130. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included Reginald de la Forthe in Suffolk and later, Geoffrey atte Forde was found in Sussex in 1296. 3

The Hundredorum Rolls also included: Richard de la Forde, Norfolk; and William de la Forde, Kent. 4 In Somerset, David atte Forde was registered there 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 5

The name is "characteristic of the southern and western counties. Absent or singularly rare north of a line drawn from the Wash to the Mersey. It is at present most numerous in Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hants, and Cheshire. In almost all the counties where this name is at all frequent we find it in one form or another as a place - name." 6

Early History of the Forde family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Forde research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1559, 1586, 1594, 1598, 1615, 1616, 1619, 1640, 1642, 1660, 1662, 1664, 1669, 1674, 1684, 1699, 1804, 1826, 1846, 1847, 1863, 1890, 1905 and 1947 are included under the topic Early Forde History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Forde Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Forde were recorded, including Forde, Ford, Alford and others.

Early Notables of the Forde family

Notables of this surname at this time include: William Ford or Foord (c.1559-1616?), Church of England clergyman, he may have been the same William Ford who became Rector of Thurleigh, Bedfordshire in 1594 or the William Ford who became Vicar of Bristow, Herefordshire in 1615; Thomas Ford (1598-1674), an English...
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Forde Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Forde Ranking

In the United States, the name Forde is the 5,451st most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 7

Ireland Migration of the Forde family to Ireland

Some of the Forde family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 126 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Forde migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Forde family emigrate to North America:

Forde Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Forde, aged 36, who arrived in New York in 1633 8
  • Ann Forde was recorded in Maryland in 1673
  • Ann Forde, who arrived in Maryland in 1673 8
Forde Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Charles Forde, who landed in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1855 8

Canada Forde migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Forde Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • James Forde, who arrived in New Brunswick, Canada in 1834
  • James Forde, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Betsy Heron" from Belfast, Ireland
  • Robert Forde, aged 25, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Preston" from Sligo, Ireland

Australia Forde migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Forde Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Patrick Forde, (b. 1799), aged 21, Irish tailor who was convicted in Galway, Ireland for life for sedition, transported aboard the "Dorothy" on 5th May 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
  • Mr. Daniel Forde, (Ford), (b. 1795), aged 27, Irish ploughman who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 3rd September 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1826 10
  • Mr. Gilbert Forde, English convict who was convicted in Kent, England for life, transported aboard the "Emperor Alexander"on 6th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 11
  • Mr. John Forde, (b. 1818), aged 20, Irish shoe maker who was convicted in Wicklow, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 29th December 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
  • Miss Honor Forde, Irish country servant who was convicted in Galway, Ireland for 10 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Blackfriar" on 24th January 1851, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Forde 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:

Forde Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Peter Forde, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "New Great Britain" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 10th August 1863 14
  • Miss Bridget Forde, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "New Great Britain" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 10th August 1863 14
  • Mr. James Forde, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Sir George Pollock" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand in January 1863 15
  • Miss Bridget Forde, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Sir George Pollock" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand in January 1863 15
  • Mr. James Forde, (b. 1853), aged 21, Irish farm labourer from Galway travelling from London aboard the ship "Tweed" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th September 1874 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Forde (post 1700) +

  • Pat Forde, American sports journalist, National columnist for Yahoo Sports
  • Gerhard O. Forde (1927-2005), American Lutheran theologian
  • Patrick Forde (1835-1913), Irish born, American journalist, who founded "The Irish World"
  • Brinsley Forde MBE (b. 1953), English founder member of the reggae band Aswad
  • Ms. Sherley Forde B.E.M., British Catering Assistant for Cabinet Office, was appointed Medallist of the British Empire Medal 29th December 2018 for public service 16
  • Duane Forde (b. 1969), Canadian Football League broadcaster for TSN
  • Sheri Forde (b. 1968), born Sheri Hargrave, a Canadian sports reporter formerly of TSN, wife of Duane Forde
  • Mattie Forde, Irish Gaelic footballer
  • Mary Marguerite "Leneen" Forde AC (b. 1935), born Mary Marguerite Leneen Kavanagh, Australian politician, 22nd Governor of Queensland (1992-1997)
  • David Forde (b. 1979), Irish professional footballer
  • ... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  6. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  7. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  8. 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)
  9. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dorothy
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emperor-alexander
  12. Convict Records Australia. Retrieved on 18th March 2022 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elphinstone
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/blackfriar
  14. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  15. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  16. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists
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