Family name origins & meanings
- English, French, and Catalan : nickname from Old French, Middle English, Catalan fort, ‘strong’, ‘brave’ (Latin fortis). In some cases it may be from the Latin personal name derived from this word; this was borne by an obscure saint whose cult was popular during the Middle Ages in southern and southwestern France.
- English and French : topographic name for someone who lived near a fortress or stronghold, or an occupational name for someone employed in one. Compare Fortier 1.
- Czech (Fořt) : variant of Forst.