Surname Firth - Meaning and Origin

Unraveling the Roots of 'Firth' Through iGENEA DNA Test: A Personal Genealogy Journey

Taking the iGENEA DNA test has been an illuminating experience. Between the technicalities of the test procedure and the exploration of my surname's historical journey, I found a deeper connection to the roots of my heritage enticing. Particularly, the discovery revolving around the surname Firth, stretching back to the Anglo-Saxon era, was fascinating.

Z. Firth

Firth: What does the surname Firth mean?

Firth is a surname of Anglo-Saxon origin and it is derived from Old English "Fyrth," which means "woodland" or "scrubland." However, its usage evolved over time to refer to a coastal or river estuary, especially in Scotland. In the Scottish context, "Firth" means a long, narrow area of sea, often bordered by steep cliffs, or the mouth of a river. Notable geographical features such as the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde use this definition. Surnames were often used as a way to describe a person's occupation, geographical location, or personal characteristics during the Middle Ages. Therefore, someone bearing the surname Firth may have been associated with or lived near such coastal or riverside areas. It could also have been a topographic name given to someone living near a forest or scrubland. Names like this were used to uniquely identify individuals in a time when standardized names were still not fully developed. Hence, the last name Firth carries historical and geographical significance.

Firth: Where does the name Firth come from?

The last name Firth is a name of British origin, common throughout England, Scotland, and Wales. Currently, the most concentrated areas of people who share this surname are located in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire, as well as Manchester, Sheffield, and Leeds. As with many British surnames, Firth can also be found in other countries with a strong connection to the British Isles. For example, the name is prominently featured in countries across the Commonwealth such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Additionally, others bearing this last name have immigrated to countries in the rest of Europe, North and South America, and beyond.

The surname Firth is believed to be derived from either the Old English ‘fyrth’, meaning ‘woodland’, or the Old Norse 'fjorðr', meaning 'inlet' or 'firth'. Those bearing the name are likely to be descended from someone whose name was associated with a specific geographic area, such as a nearby river, stream, or firth.

Firth is a fairly common surname, ranking fairly high on the list of popular surnames in the United Kingdom. It is thought that there are currently around 10,400 people who share this last name in the UK. Furthermore, the name is still quite common in the areas of England, Scotland, and Wales where it first emerged. Research suggests that the areas listed earlier are the most prominent locations for Firths today.

Variations of the surname Firth

The surname Firth can have several variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Common variations of the name Firth include Furt, Furth, Frit, Fritte, Freeth, Ferth, Firths, Fothergill, Fethergill and Fothers. It is also found spelled Fyrd and Furd and may also appear as Furthe, Fird, Frieth and Fryth.

The surname Firth is of English and German origin. It is derived from an old and common Anglo-Saxon word, “firth,” meaning a wood or a forest. In early English names and surnames, the word “firth” was typically given to land-owners (or those who lived on a particular plot of land) or those who lived near a wood or a forest.

Due to the various ways in which the surname Firth has been spelled under different languages or dialects, there are several other surnames related to the Firth surname. These include Featherstone, Fereday, Fletching, Forth, Freer, Freeth, Furze, Fiddel, Fiddler and Forder.

In German, the name can be translated to the spelling “Fürth,” which is derived from the same origin as the English spelling. The Fürth spelling is still common in Germany today.

It is also worth noting that Firth can be used as a given name as well.

Famous people with the name Firth

• Colin Firth: an English actor, most known for his Academy Award-winning portrayal of King George VI in The King's Speech.
• Matthew Firth: an American business magnate and philanthropist, former CEO of Synergics Corp.
• James Firth: an English astrophysicist and academic, professor of astrophysics at the University of Manchester.
• Elizabeth Firth: an Australian-based British opera singer and recording artist.
• Morgan Firth: an English actor who currently plays the role of Lance Corporal Joseph Pyke in the television series Silent Witness.
• Jeremy Firth: an English former professional football player who played in the Premier League for Aston Villa and Liverpool.
• Jack Firth: an English actor who starred in the BBC television series The Borgias and The Musketeers.
• Mark Firth: an English soccer player who playing in the English Championship with Blackburn Rovers.
• Susannah Firth: an English singer and actor, most known for her role as Susan Price in the musical Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
• Mark Firth: an American entrepreneur and inventor, founder of Forge and Pearl Washington.

Other surnames

Firtina