Fortson
A surname that likely means “son of Fort” or “son of Forts,” probably developed as an English-style patronymic.
The #7,765 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 72,255 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Fortson is most likely an English patronymic surname built with the suffix -son, meaning “son of.” The first element is probably a short form of a personal name or nickname such as Fort, which itself may relate to an old French/English word for “strong” or, in some cases, a place-based or descriptive nickname. In practice, the surname is best understood as “son of Fort” rather than as a direct reference to a fortress.
History
Fortson is a relatively uncommon surname in the United States and is usually treated as an English-derived family name. Like many surnames ending in -son, it may have stabilized late and could reflect a shortened given name or nickname rather than a long-established medieval surname. In American records, spellings of this kind sometimes vary with Fortson, Forteson, and similar forms.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Surnames ending in -son often began as plain descriptions of family relationship before becoming fixed hereditary names.