Surname Forthergill - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'F'
Forthergill: What does the surname Forthergill mean?
The last name Forthergill is of English origin and is a topographic surname, which means the family originated from a place with this name. This place most likely had an old English spellings of "Forð-æcer" or "ford-acres", referring to a location near a ford or crossing point.
The surname Forthergill can be traced back to the 14th Century in various records throughout England. Upper Weardale in County Durham was the place of origin for the Forthergill family. The earliest records for the name date back to 1348 when Johannes Ffothergill was first recorded in Westmorland. While the majority of records for this name come from County Durham, this family did have a few branches in other English counties such as Lancashire and Westmorland.
The surname Forthergill is derived from the Old English words “forð” meaning “east” and “ac” meaning “oaks” or “acorns” combined. It’s possible that the family was associated with oak trees in the area or was the holder of a forest or woodland.
The Forthergill family is known for their charitable contributions throughout the country. They helped to fund the building of churches in Durham, and their name appears on gravestones and monuments in various locations.
Overall, the last name Forthergill has a long and distinguished history in England and is strongly connected to the North of the country. Its origins are based in a location near a ford or crossing point, and the family is well known for its numerous charitable contributions.
Order DNA origin analysisForthergill: Where does the name Forthergill come from?
The last name Forthergill is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. It is estimated that there are currently around 1,000 individuals with the Forthergill surname living in the UK.
The name likely originated in Scotland and it is believed that the earliest members of the family were descended from the ancient Anglo-Saxons of the kingdom of Northumbria. It was once common in the northern counties of England and Scotland, and this remains true today.
Currently, the highest concentration of the Forthergill family name is found in the northwest region of England and the region of Yorkshire. The largest populations of the Forthergill surname outside of the UK can be found in the United States and Australia.
The Forthergill name has been around for centuries, and is linked to many famous people. Well-known historical figures of the Forthergill family include distinguished clergyman William Fothergill-Cooke, comedy writer and presenter Robin Fothergill, and art historian and author Arthur Fothergill.
The Forthergill family name continues to be common today, largely in the UK, but also in some parts of the United States and Australia.
Variations of the surname Forthergill
The surname Forthergill is derived from the Old English words "forð" meaning "forward" or "for" and "gilda" meaning "hostage" and was first recorded in Cornwall, England in the 1100s. Over time the name has seen many variations of spelling including Fothergill, Fothergould, Fotherkill, Fotterell, Futterill, Fothergile, Fwhytheroyell, and Fetherill.
The most common variant of Forthergill is Fothergill. In Scotland, the name is commonly found spelled Futhergill, or Futhercoll, without the 'o'. In Ireland, the name is often spelled Fothergilde, Foathergild, and Fothergil.
In both Scotland and Ireland, the surname is also frequently seen in the longer form with extra 't's or 'l's added, i.e. Fothergillet, Fothergilletts, Fothergillitt, Fothergillitts, and Fothergyll.
In records, the form Fothergill seems to be most consistent, with Fothergartt and Fothergyll being used in Scotland.
As far as surnames of the same origin go, Forthergill doesn't have many variants. The most common variants are the direct translations of the original word—Fothergill, Fothergilt, and Fothergilde—and the modified versions of those words, such as Fothergillet, Futhergill, Futhercoll, and Fothergillitt. With each variation, there were slight differences in the interpretation of the original meaning of the name.
Famous people with the name Forthergill
- Anij Forthergill: Canadian actress and comedienne.
- Andrew Forthergill: South African rugby union player.
- Andy Forthergill: English cricket player.
- Betty Forthergill: Canadian artist and sculptor.
- Charles Forthergill: British member of the Major-Generals in American Revolutionary War.
- George Forthergill: British naval officer.
- Harry Forthergill: British WWI soldier and recipient of The Victoria Cross.
- Isaac Forthergill: English electrical engineer and inventor.
- J.J. Forthergill: British West Indian cricket player.
- Jack Forthergill: Australian WWI soldier and recipient of The Victoria Cross.
- Kay Forthergill: American stage and screen actress.
- Roger Forthergill: British politician and Chatroom host.
- Rose Forthergill: American mystery author and academic.
- Spencer Forthergill: Australian professional football player.
- Tessa Forthergill: Australian model and TV presenter.