Fordham, of English origin, is a surname and also used as a given name. It is derived from the Old English words 'ford' meaning 'river crossing' and 'ham' which signifies an enclosure or homestead. Therefore, Fordham translates to 'homestead by the river crossing'. Historically, it has been associated with the town of Fordham in Cambridgeshire, England. The name first appeared as a forename in the late 19th century, likely inspired by its association with notable figures like Ford Madox Ford, an English novelist and poet born with the surname Hueffer who adopted 'Ford' as his pen name. Today, Fordham is used as both a first and last name, though it remains relatively uncommon.
The name Fordham saw a steady increase in popularity from 2015 to 2020, with a slight dip in 2021. Over this seven-year period, there were a total of 61 babies named Fordham.