13,098 Global FORTE Family Members

FORTE Family History

This most unusual and interesting name is of Old French origin, introduced into England by the Normans after the Conquest of 1066. The surname has a number of possible interpretations; firstly, it may have developed from a nickname for a particularly strong person, from the Old French adjective, "fort", strong, brave, from the Latin "fortis". In some cases it may be from a rare Latin personal name of the same origin borne by an obscure saint whose cult was popular in the south and south west of France during the Middle Ages.