FORTUNE
Fortune is a surname of both English and French provenance, stemming from the Middle English and Old French word fortune, which translates as “luck” or “fate.” The name was originally employed as a nickname, designating an individual regarded as fortunate or, conversely, used with irony for one deemed unlucky. It is also possible that the surname was bestowed upon a person of a positive outlook, thereby associating the bearer with fortunate circumstances.
The etymology of Fortune is reinforced by its Latin root Fortuna, meaning “chance, luck or fortune.” This Latin term was adapted into various medieval personal names such as Fortunatus (male) and the feminine Fortune, denoting prosperity or good luck. The early Christian adoption of the name contributed to its diffusion across continental Europe.
In the British Isles, the surname appears in Scotland as a locational name derived from the lands of Fortune in East Lothian. The place name itself combines the pre‑7th‑century Old English elements for (hog or pig) and tun (settlement or enclosure), yielding the sense “pig enclosure.” The first surviving record of the family name is associated with John de Fortun, dated to the early thirteenth century (c. 1200) in the Records of the Abbey of Kelso during the reign of King William I of Scotland.
Other early entries are found in church registers: Fortuna Fortune was christened in 1556 at St. Margaret’s, Westminster; William Fortune married Margarett Gill in 1582 at Kildwick, Yorkshire; Gate Fortune was christened in 1585 at St. Mary at Hill, London; and Marye Fortune married Richard Glashyre in 1587 at Greyfriars, Newgate, London. These documents illustrate the surname’s presence in both Scotland and England from the early modern period onward.
The surname is recorded across several modern countries. It is most common in the United States, particularly in the states of Florida, Texas and California. In England, the name is relatively frequent in the regions of Liverpool, London and Norfolk. In Ireland, it is prominently associated with County Wexford. Outside the English‑speaking world it occurs in France, Italy and Canada, and is still found in Australia. Despite this wide geographic distribution, Fortune remains a relatively rare surname when population size is taken into account.
Variations of the surname have evolved over time, reflecting linguistic and regional influences. Common derivatives include Fortun, Fortin, Fortuna, Fortone and occasionally Fortney or Fortain. Such variants sometimes signify immigration, pronunciation shifts or spelling standardisation. In French‑speaking contexts the form Fortuné appears, and in Spanish or Italian usage the name Fortuna is favoured.
Thus, the surname Fortune is historically anchored in the concept of luck and prosperity, with roots traversing Latin, Old French and Celtic linguistic traditions. Its spread across the British Isles and beyond testifies to its endurance, while its variants demonstrate the natural evolution of family names through centuries of social and linguistic change.
Typical given names associated with the Fortune surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Peter
- Robert
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Jennifer
- Julie
- Linda
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Fortune in...
Braille
⠋⠕⠗⠞⠥⠝⠑
Morse
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Semaphore
There are approximately 3,268 people named Fortune in the UK. That makes it roughly the 2,780th most common surname in Britain. Around 50 in a million people in Britain are named Fortune.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Fortune
- Dion Fortune - Occultist and author (1890 to 1946)
- John Fortune - Comedian (1939 to 2013)
- Jonathan Fortune - Football player
- Victor Fortune - Army general (1883 to 1949)
- Robert Fortune - Botanist (1812 to 1880)
- Clayton Fortune - Football player
- Nigel Fortune - Musicologist, political activist (1924 to 2009)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.