Show ContentsForner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Forner has a long French heritage that first began in southern region of Languedoc. The name is derived from when the family lived in Languedoc.

Early Origins of the Forner family

The surname Forner was first found in Languedoc, where the family held a family seat since ancient times.

Early History of the Forner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Forner research. Another 470 words (34 lines of text) covering the years 1271, 1317, 1342, 1452, 1525, 1533, 1575, 1578, 1624, 1630, 1650, 1652, 1709, 1712, 1713, 1768, 1820 and 1830 are included under the topic Early Forner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Forner Spelling Variations

French surnames were subject to numerous alterations in spelling because of the various cultural groups that inhabited specific regions. Eventually, each region possessed its own local dialect of the French language. The early development of the French language, however, was also influenced by other languages. For example, Old French was infused with Germanic words and sounds when barbarian tribes invaded and settled in France after the fall of the Roman Empire. Middle French also borrowed heavily from the Italian language during the Renaissance. As a result of these linguistic and cultural influences, the name Forner is distinguished by a number of regional variations. The many spelling variations of the name include Fornier, Forniest, Forniez, Forniée, Fournier, Fournié, de Fournier, Fourney, de Fornier, Forner and many more.

Early Notables of the Forner family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Jean-François-Gaspard, Viscount Fornier of Clauzelles, Councillor General of Ariège, Deputy of Ariège and a Knight of the Legion of Honour. Honoré Caille, seigneur du Fourny (1630-1713) was a French genealogist.Pierre Simon Fournier, engraver and type-founder, born in Paris Sept. 15, 1712, died there Oct. 8, 1768. He greatly...
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Forner Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Forner Ranking

In France, the name Forner is the 9,518th most popular surname with an estimated 500 - 1,000 people with that name. 1


United States Forner migration to the United States +

Immigration to New France was slow; therefore, early marriage was desperately encouraged amongst the immigrants. The fur trade attracted migrants, both noble and commoner. 15,000 explorers left Montreal in the late 17th and 18th centuries. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec. By the same year the Acadian presence in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had reached 500. In 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take an oath of allegiance to England and were deported to Louisiana. The French founded Lower Canada, thus becoming one of the two great founding nations of Canada. The distinguished family name Forner has made significant contributions to the culture, arts, sciences and religion of France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Forner were

Forner Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Martin Forner, who settled in Philadelphia in 1748
Forner Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Maria DeLasMercedes Forner, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1845 2
  • William Forner, who settled in Philadelphia in 1852
  • Lewis Forner, who settled in Philadelphia in 1866
  • August Forner, who landed in Iowa in 1873 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Forner (post 1700) +

  • Elmira Forner (b. 1941), Canadian-born, American politician who served in the Washington House of Representatives from the 47th district from 1990 to 1995
  • John F. Forner Jr., American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York, 1952, 1952 3
  • Sandro Alexandre Forner (b. 1970), Brazilian football coach and former player who played as a central defender


  1. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  2. 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)
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 23) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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