Fordham is an English surname of Norman origin that was brought to England by the Normans after the Norman Conquest in 1066. The name is derived from the town of Fordham in Cambridgeshire, England. The prefix "ford" means river crossing while the suffix "-ham" means village or homestead. Therefore, Fordham can be interpreted as meaning "river crossing village" or "village near a river crossing".
The surname Fordham was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was spelled "Fortham". Over time, the spelling evolved and changed, with variations such as Fortham, Forham, and Forham being used.
Throughout history, many notable individuals have borne the surname Fordham. Some of the most famous include:
* John Fordham (1847-1930), an English cricketer who played for Kent County Cricket Club
* Reginald Fordham (1865-1929), an Australian politician who served as a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
* Charles Fordham (1890-1967), an American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Fordham Foundation
Today, Fordham is still used primarily as a surname in English-speaking countries. However, it has also become popular as a given name for boys in recent years, particularly in the United States. According to data from the Social Security Administration, Fordham was the 965th most popular boy's name in the U.S. in 2018.
Overall, Fordham is a historic and meaningful surname with Norman origins that has been associated with notable individuals throughout history. Whether used as a first or last name, Fordham is a strong and memorable choice for parents seeking unique options for their children.
The name Fordham has seen a steady increase in popularity over the past seven years in the United States. In 2015, there were 7 babies named Fordham, followed by 6 in 2016. However, from 2017 onwards, there has been a consistent rise in the number of newborns given this name, with 10 births in 2017, 8 in 2018, and an even higher 10 in 2019. This trend continued into 2020 with 11 babies named Fordham, which was the highest number recorded since these statistics began being tracked. In 2021, there were 9 births of children named Fordham.
Overall, from 2015 to 2021, there have been a total of 61 births in the United States where the baby has been named Fordham. This shows that while not exceptionally common, this name is becoming more frequent and gaining recognition among parents choosing names for their children.