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Forde History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Forde History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Forde

What does the name Forde mean?

As an Irish surname, Forde was an Anglicized version of three different Gaelic names: "Mac Giolla Naomh," meaning "son of the devotee of the saints" was a Sept that originated in southern Connemara. The name also comes from "Mac Consnámha," or "son of the swimming hound." This Connacht Sept has also been Anglicized as Kinneavy. Lastly, in Cork, the name was an Anglicized version of "Fuaráin", though more often it was Anglicized as Foran.There are also many Irish bearers of this name, who are ultimately of English origin. The English name comes from the Old English word "ford," which denotes a shallow section of a river, where it can be crossed. One large family came to County Meath from Devon in the 14th century where they became large land-holders.

Early Origins of the Forde family

The surname Forde was first found in Connacht (Irish: Connachta, (land of the) descendants of Conn), and in County Cork where several distinct Irish Septs all came to be known by the English name Forde.

Early History of the Forde family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Forde research. Another 55 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1355 and 1604 are included under the topic Early Forde History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Forde Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Ford, Forde and others.

Early Notables of the Forde family

Notable among the family name at this time was

Sir Ambrose Forde, who was knighted at Leixlip by Sir Geroge Cary, Lord Deputy on Aug 2, 1604

Forde Ranking

In the United States, the name Forde is the 5,451^st most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1

Forde migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Forde Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Forde, aged 36, who arrived in New York in 1633 2
Ann Forde was recorded in Maryland in 1673
Ann Forde, who arrived in Maryland in 1673 2

Forde Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Charles Forde, who landed in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1855 2

Forde migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Forde Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

James Forde, who arrived in New Brunswick, Canada in 1834
James Forde, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Betsy Heron" from Belfast, Ireland
Robert Forde, aged 25, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Preston" from Sligo, Ireland

Forde migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Forde Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Patrick Forde, (b. 1799), aged 21, Irish tailor who was convicted in Galway, Ireland for life for sedition, transported aboard the "Dorothy" on 5th May 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 3
Mr. Daniel Forde, (Ford), (b. 1795), aged 27, Irish ploughman who was convicted in Cork, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 3rd September 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1826 4
Mr. Gilbert Forde, English convict who was convicted in Kent, England for life, transported aboard the "Emperor Alexander"on 6th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
Mr. John Forde, (b. 1818), aged 20, Irish shoe maker who was convicted in Wicklow, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 29th December 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
Miss Honor Forde, Irish country servant who was convicted in Galway, Ireland for 10 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Blackfriar" on 24th January 1851, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Forde migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Forde Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Peter Forde, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "New Great Britain" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 10th August 1863 8
Miss Bridget Forde, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "New Great Britain" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 10th August 1863 8
Mr. James Forde, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Sir George Pollock" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand in January 1863 9
Miss Bridget Forde, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Sir George Pollock" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand in January 1863 9
Mr. James Forde, (b. 1853), aged 21, Irish farm labourer from Galway travelling from London aboard the ship "Tweed" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th September 1874 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Forde (post 1700) +

Pat Forde, American sports journalist, National columnist for Yahoo Sports
Gerhard O. Forde (1927-2005), American Lutheran theologian
Patrick Forde (1835-1913), Irish born, American journalist, who founded "The Irish World"
Mattie Forde, Irish Gaelic footballer
David Forde (b. 1979), Irish professional footballer
Ms. Sherley Forde B.E.M., British Catering Assistant for Cabinet Office, was appointed Medallist of the British Empire Medal 29th December 2018 for public service 10
Duane Forde (b. 1969), Canadian Football League broadcaster for TSN
Sheri Forde (b. 1968), born Sheri Hargrave, a Canadian sports reporter formerly of TSN, wife of Duane Forde
Mary Marguerite "Leneen" Forde AC (b. 1935), born Mary Marguerite Leneen Kavanagh, Australian politician, 22nd Governor of Queensland (1992-1997)
Brinsley Forde MBE (b. 1953), English founder member of the reggae band Aswad
... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Forde Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Lucrum Christi mihi
Motto Translation: Without Christ, there is no light.

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dorothy
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emperor-alexander
Convict Records Australia. Retrieved on 18th March 2022 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elphinstone
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/blackfriar
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
"Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists