Forni History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France
Italy

The name Forni 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 Forni family

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

Early History of the Forni family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Forni 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 Forni History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Forni 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 Forni 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 Forni 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 g...

Forni migration to the United States +

France finally gave land incentives for 2,000 migrants during the 1700s. Early marriage was encouraged in New France, and youths of 18 took fourteen-year-old girls for their wives. The fur trade was developed and attracted migrants, both noble and commoner from France. 15,000 explorers left Montreal in the late 17th and 18th centuries, leaving French names scattered across the continent. The search for the Northwest passage continued. Migration from France to New France or Quebec, as it was now more popularly called, continued until 1759. 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 the treaty of Utrecht, the Acadians were ceded by France to Britain in 1713. In 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take an oath of allegiance to England and were deported. They found refuge in Louisiana. Meanwhile, in Quebec, the French race flourished, founding in Lower Canada, one of the two great solitudes which became Canada. Many of this distinguished family name Forni were prominent in social, cultural, religious and political affairs in France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Forni were

Forni Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Celto Forni, aged 32, who settled in America, in 1893
Clemente Forni, aged 23, who landed in America, in 1893
Adelaide Forni, aged 41, who landed in America, in 1895
Alfred Forni, aged 16, who settled in America, in 1895
Anselmo Forni, aged 18, who landed in America, in 1897

Forni Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Aurelio Forni, aged 33, who landed in America, in 1903
Albert Forni, aged 20, who immigrated to the United States, in 1907
Amrino Forni, aged 23, who immigrated to the United States from Bercetor, Italy, in 1908
Agostina Forni, aged 21, who landed in America from Argine, Italy, in 1909
Alessandro Forni, aged 22, who landed in America from Pesineto, Italy, in 1911
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Forni (post 1700) +

Raymond Forni (1941-2008), French Socialist politician, President of the National Assembly (2000-2002), 6th President of Franche-Comté (2004-2008), awarded Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (2000)
Raffaele Forni (1906-1990), Swiss Roman Catholic archbishop
Giovanni Roberto Forni, Italian tug of war competitor who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics
Cardinal Efrem Leone Pio Forni (1889-1976), Italian Roman Catholic prelate, elevated to the cardinalate in 1962, Nuncio to Ecuador (1937-1953), Nuncio to Belgium (1953-1962), Internuncio to Luxembourg (1953-1962)
Dr. Pier Massimo Forni (b. 1952), Italian professor at Johns Hopkins University, co-founded and currently directs the Civility Project at Johns Hopkins