Forsythe
A Scottish surname best known as a spelling variant of Forsyth, probably from an old nickname or descriptive byname.
The #3,147 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 26,873 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Forsythe is generally treated as a variant spelling of Forsyth. The name is usually explained from a Scottish byname, though the exact original form and meaning were not fixed consistently in older records. In practice, it is best understood as a surname of Scottish development rather than as a transparent modern English word.
History
The historical record shows Forsythe alongside Forsyth in Scottish and Irish contexts, with older spellings varying widely. The Matheson material places the name among Scottish surnames, and later usage reflects the spread of the form into Ireland and then the English-speaking world. In modern times, Forsythe and Forsyth have often been used interchangeably in family lines, though the spellings became distinct inherited surnames.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The spelling with -e at the end is comparatively less common than Forsyth, but both forms have long coexisted in records.
From the historical record
“641 FORSYTHE. 661 Fvland. Garratt. Geraty. Forsayeth. Forsithe.”
— Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland