Surname Forgy - Meaning and Origin
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Forgy: What does the surname Forgy mean?
The surname Forgy is an English and German derivative of the name Furgi or Furgie. It is derived from the Old Germanic element "furg" meaning to "put to pasture or graze." The name is likely an occupational surname as its original bearer was a shepherd or one who takes care of livestock.
In England, various spellings of the surname Forgy have been documented, including Furgi, Forgy, Furgie, Furgue, and Furghee. The variant spellings originated during a time when literacy seemed to be quite a bit more uncommon. Nevertheless, all these variant spellings share the same root and can be seen as derivatives coming from the same source.
The surname was likely brought to America during the colonial period when European immigrants sought a new and better life in the colonies. It was also common for immigrants to Anglicize their surname to a more familiar spelling, such as the name Forgy.
As time has passed, a variety of other spellings have been adopted for the surname including: Forgey, Forgie, and Forgus. There are also several notable bearers of the surname Forgy, mostly descendants of the original Furgi immigrants. These include professional golfer Tim Forgy, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce under President Gerald Ford, Frederick T. Forgy, former pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Robert Forgy, and actor and musician Eric Forgy.
Order DNA origin analysisForgy: Where does the name Forgy come from?
The last name Forgy is not particularly common in the United States, but there are a few pockets around the country where it can be found.
In the midwest, states like Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio, and Missouri are known to have clusters of people with the last name Forgy.
The U.S. Social Security Administration has the Forgy surname listed as the 15,499th most common surname in the country.
The highest concentrations of Forgy's can be found in the states of North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia. In some of these states, it is counted as one of the top 1,000 most common last names.
Internationally, Forgy is not a particularly common name, although there are some places in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom that have higher concentration of people with the surname.
Altogether, the census data shows that the Forgy surname is not particularly common today, although there are still scattered pockets of this name in the United States and abroad.
Variations of the surname Forgy
The surname Forgy is believed to have originated in the United Kingdom, coming from the Welsh language. Alternate spellings of the surname Forgy include Forgie, Forky, Forgie, and Furgie. Variants of the surname include Forguy, Forguey, Forgeary, Forger, Furguy, Furgie, Kilfougeray, and Kilfougerie.
Forguy and Forguey are the most common variants, and they are both heard in certain regions of England. Forguy is commonly found in the Midlands provinces of England, especially around Leicester and Nottinghamshire. Forguey is primarily heard in the counties of Cornwall and Somerset.
Another variant, Forgeary, is derived from the original Welsh spelling of the surname and is predominantly found in Ireland and the United Kingdom. The surname Forger is also derived from the Welsh variant, and is most commonly found in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
The variant Furguy is also seen in both England and Ireland. Furgie is a variant occasionally seen in Northern England, while Kilfougeray and Kilfougerie are variants found occasionally in Scotland.
In short, the surname Forgy has a variety of spellings and variants all over the British Isles, depending on the country and region of origin. Each variant is believed to be derived from the Welsh spelling of the same surname, and is most commonly found in the countries of England, Ireland, and Scotland.
Famous people with the name Forgy
- Norah Forgy: Norwegian musical composer and artist.
- Levon Forgy: American computer scientist and winner of the 2007 ACM Turing Award.
- Jack Forgy: American politician and multi-term Representative from Kentucky's 6th district.
- Andrew Forgy: American film and television composer.
- Bill Forgy: American writer of fiction and non-fiction works.
- Janice Forgy: American painter, sculptor, and installation artist.
- Kristin Forgy: American music producer and digital media artist.
- Eric Forgy: American visual artist and sculptor.
- Stephanie Forgy: American singer-songwriter.
- Sherman Forgy: American actor and director.