Last Name FOREST

Summary/Contribute


Meaning An old tradition records that in 870, Solvathius Forbes married Moravilla, daughter of King Gregory the Great. Another account states that, one Achonacher came from Ireland to Scotland about the end of the twelfth century, and having slain a monstrous wild boar, took the name of Forbear, afterwards turned to Forbeas, and used a boar's head in his arms to commemorate the deed. In the southeast corner of the parish of Au- chindon, is a spring, called the Nine Maidens Well, near which nine virgins were slain by a wild boar. The boar was afterwards killed by a young chief of the name of Forbes, the lover of one of the maidens. From this circumstance, the boar's head is now borne by the Forbes in their arms. This chieftain, who was named John de Forbes, was owner of the lands of Forbes in 1214 ; his son, Fergus de Forbes, was father of Alexander Forbes, whose son, Alexander Forbes, was the father of Sir John Forbes, who had three sons, Sir Alexander, Sir William, and Sir John: and from these three brothers are descended the families of Forbes.
Origin Scottish, Jewish, French, Irish, Haitian, Belgian

Rank 6,270 (2000 US census) 4,727 (1990 US census)
Count 5,006 (2000 US census)

Race / ethnic distribution

The 2000 US Census claims that
  • 69.1%, or 3459 total occurrences, of those with this family name identified themselves as being white,
  • 26.69%, or 1336 total occurrences, as black,
  • 0.74%, or 37 total occurrences, as Asian and Pacific Islander,
  • 0.44%, or 22 total occurrences, as American Indian and Native Alaskan,
  • 1.48%, or 74 total occurrences, as two or more races, and
  • 1.56%, or 78 total occurrences, as Hispanic ethnic origin.


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