Explore the Family Name Fourie

The meaning of Fourie

French (Fourié): variant of Fourier, an occupational name from Old French forrier ‘forager’, i.e. one responsible for ensuring the accommodation of troops passing through or a soldier sent out to gather forage. This surname is most common in South Africa. History: The South African bearers of the surname Fourie (rarely Fourié) trace their origin to Louis Fourié, a Huguenot from Dauphiné, France, who arrived in the Dutch Cape Colony via the Netherlands in 1688. He married Suzanne Cordier c.1694 and Anna Jourda(a)n c.1716. He is recognized as a French Huguenot ancestor by the Huguenot Society of South Africa.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Fourie in the United States?

According to data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Fourie has seen a surge in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 83,004th most common surname but by 2010, it had climbed to the 63,218th spot, seeing a notable increase of 23.84%. In terms of count, there were 211 individuals with the surname Fourie in 2000 which rose to 316 by 2010, marking an impressive surge of 49.76%. The proportion of people with this surname per 100,000 also increased from 0.08 to 0.11 during this decade, showing a growth rate of 37.5%.

20002010Change
Rank#83,004#63,21823.84%
Count21131649.76%
Proportion per 100k0.080.1137.5%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Fourie

Shifting focus to the ethnicity associated with the surname Fourie, based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, we can see some changes between 2000 and 2010. While no individuals identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, Hispanic or American Indian and Alaskan Native in 2000, by 2010 these categories had reported numbers. Specifically, 2.85% were Hispanic, 3.80% were Black, and 2.22% reported being of two or more races. However, the majority of individuals with the surname Fourie were White, comprising 95.73% in 2000 and 90.19% in 2010, albeit witnessing a decline of 5.79% over the decade.

20002010Change
White95.73%90.19%-5.79%
Black0%3.8%0%
Hispanic0%2.85%0%
Two or More Races0%2.22%0%
Asian/Pacific Islander0%0%0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0%0%