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Forsch Family History

Forsch Surname Meaning

South German (also Försch) is a topographic name for someone who lives near a forest or is in charge of a tree nursery, derived from the Middle High German forst, meaning ‘forest’.

Additionally, it can be a nickname stemming from the Middle High German vorsche vorsch, which translates to ‘inquiry’ or ‘question’.

This aspect ties the name to roles associated with legal or court investigations.

The dual meanings highlight the connection of the name to both geography and profession.

Overall, the name Försch reflects significant historical and occupational ties within the South German context.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Forsch family from?

You can see how Forsch families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Forsch family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1871 and 1920. The most Forsch families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 9 Forsch families living in Ontario. This was about 53% of all the recorded Forsch's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Forsch families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Forsch surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Forsch ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Forsch. 23% of Forsch men worked as a Farmer and 20% of Forsch women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Forsch were Butcher and Housewife.

View Census Data for Forsch | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    23%
  • Laborer
    19%
  • Machinist
    19%
  • Butcher
    14%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    20%
  • Teacher
    20%
  • House Work
    20%
  • Housewife
    20%

What Forsch family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Forsch. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Forsch census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Forsch

Passenger Lists

There are 830 immigration records available for the last name Forsch. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Forsch immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 776 military records available for the last name Forsch. For the veterans among your Forsch ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Forsch military records

You've only scratched the surface of Forsch family history

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What is the average Forsch lifespan?

Between 1956 and 2004, in the United States, Forsch life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1999, and highest in 1990. The average life expectancy for Forsch in 1956 was 51, and 81 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Forsch

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Forsch ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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