Surname Forsayth - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'F'
Forsayth: What does the surname Forsayth mean?
The last name Forsayth is of Scottish origin. It is believed to be derived from the Old Norse word "forsæiðr," meaning charcoal burner. This suggests that the name originated from someone who was a charcoal burner, or someone who worked in a related occupation like a charcoal supplier or trader. The name is also linked to the Gaelic elements “forsa”, meaning a forest, and “seiðr”, meaning a wood-burning or burning of logs to make charcoal.
The roots of the name date back to medieval times in Scotland and there is evidence to suggest that those bearing the name Forsayth may have lived in the area known as “Forsayth” in Ayrshire, Scotland in the 16th century. The word is also said to have been derived from the Old Norse term “fora” or “forsæið” meaning hood. Thus the surname Forsayth could have originated from the Old Norse term “forsæiðr harr,” which was used to describe someone who wore a large hood. It is believed that some of the earliest bearers of the name may have been hooded laborers in Scotland.
The surname Forsayth is a testament to the origins of Scotland and the influence of Scandinavia from the millennium ago. It remains popular to this day and can be found in different countries around the world including the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and Canada.
Order DNA origin analysisForsayth: Where does the name Forsayth come from?
The last name Forsayth is most commonly found in North America, mainly in Canada, Scotland, and Ireland. It is also found in parts of Africa, Europe and Central/South America. Records of the Forsayth surname date back to the fifteenth century in Scotland. The name is believed to have been of local origin, derived from the Norse “forsat”, meaning “fortified collection of land”. The earliest recordings of the Forsayth name include William Forsayth, who was born in Scotland in 1558.
The most common place to find the name Forsayth today is in Scotland. It is the 15th most common surname in Scotland. In Ireland, the name is mainly found in counties Donegal, Galway, and Cork. It is also found in Canada, both in its English-speaking provinces and in its French-speaking provinces.
In the United States, the Forsayth surname is much less common. It is concentrated mainly in states with large Scots-Irish populations, such as Pennsylvania, Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia.
Today, people named Forsayth are spread out around the world, but wherever you find them, they likely have a common ancestor: someone who left Scotland or Ireland centuries ago and who has since passed their name on down to their descendants.
Variations of the surname Forsayth
The surname Forsayth is an Anglicised spelling of its original Gaelic form, O Fiarisaidh. O Fiarisaidh often takes the form O Farrissey or O Ferrissey and is found throughout Ireland and Scotland.
The surname Forsayth can also be found spelled as Forsaith, Forseyth, Forsythe, Forsythee, Forsyth, Forsythe, Forsythia, and Pettersak.
In Scotland, the name is common in the Highlands and is often used interchangeably with the more common spelling, Forsyth.
Variants of Forsayth are found in Ireland and Scotland, as well as Canada, United States, Australia and New Zealand. In some cases, the O Fiarisaidh form of O Forsayth has been retained.
Forsayth is also an alternate spelling of the much more common surname Forsyth. The Forsyth surname is of ancient Scottish origin. It likely derived from either the village of Forsyth in Midlothian or the lands of Foresich in Tweeddale, Scotland.
In addition to variations of the Forsayth and Forsyth surnames, there are also a number of other derivative surnames of the same origin. These include Forsaith-Forsythe, Farrissy-Forsyth, Ferris, Ferry, Ferar, Ferrisy, Foresigh, Fery, Fry, Forayth, and Forsyte.
Some researchers suggest that there may be a connection between the above surnames, particularly Forsaith, Forsythe, and Forsyth, and the Norse-Viking surnames of Ferse and Fagorse.
Most variants of the Forsayth name can be found throughout the British Isles and other parts of the world where Scots and Irish emigrants settled.
Famous people with the name Forsayth
- Emma Forsayth: Actor, playwright, and television producer from Australia.
- John Forsayth: Author, music producer, and lecturer living in the United Kingdom.
- Katie Forsayth: Actress, model, and social media star from California.
- Philip Forsayth: Footballer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist from New South Wales, Australia.
- Rhys Forsayth: Photographer, filmmaker, and graphic designer based in London.
- Tom Forsayth: Australian sports journalist and broadcaster working in the United States.
- Tony Forsayth: Musician and producer from the United Kingdom.
- David Forsayth: British-born Australian satirist and writer.
- Aneisha Forsayth: Lawyer and former radio presenter.
- Darren Forsayth: Former journalist and communications consultant currently living in the United States.