FORBES
The Forbes surname has its roots firmly planted in the Scottish Highlands and the Gaelic linguistic tradition. The name derives from the Gaelic forba, which means “field” or “plain”, signalling a connection with a particular landscape and therefore a place name in the Scottish Lowlands.
Historical records show that Forbes is a territorial surname linked to the lands of Forbes in Aberdeenshire, a district that was originally called forba-ais – “the field district”. The name is first found in a charter dated to the latter part of the thirteenth century, when Alexander I of Scotland granted the lands to a nobleman named Duncan de Forbes, whose surname is recorded as the earliest example of the spelling that persists to the present day.
The significance of the Forbes name is further illustrated by the early appearance of the family in English Rolls of Parliament around 1306 under the name John Forbes, and by the elevation of Alexander Forbes to the rank of Lord of Parliament by James II between 1436 and 1442. These events firmly establish the family as an established Scottish aristocratic house during the medieval period.
Over the centuries several members of the Forbes family have distinguished themselves in ecclesiastical, academic and public life. William Forbes (1585–1634) served as the first Bishop of Edinburgh, while John Forbes acted as a professor of divinity at King’s College, Aberdeen from 1620 to 1639. Both men are recorded in the Dictionary of National Biography and demonstrate the influential role of the family in Scottish society.
The migration of Scots during the 18th and 19th centuries carried the Forbes name beyond the borders of Britain. Scottish emigrants with the surname settled in North America, Australia and New Zealand, bringing with them the clan’s traditions and the custody of their lands and titles. The name thus acquired a prominent international presence, particularly in countries with large Scottish diasporic communities.
In addition to the Scottish lineage, the Forbes surname also has a distinct Irish branch that originated with Sir Arthur Forbes, the first Earl of Granard, who established his family’s seat in County Longford in 1620. Within Ireland, a sept known as the Forbes of Connacht is historically recorded as a branch of the Mac Fearbhisigh family, a patronymic that denotes a compound of Celtic elements meaning “man” and “prosperity”. The book of Lecan, compiled in 1417 by Giolla Iosa Mor Mac Firbis, contains early references to this sept and confirms the family’s integration into Irish heraldic tradition.
Today the Forbes surname remains closely associated with the ancient clan system of Scotland. Clan Forbes, one of the oldest and most noble clans in the Scottish Borders, is celebrated for its lineage, grave sites and diaspora of supporters. The surname itself continues to convey a sense of historical depth, land rootedness and a legacy that spans both Scottish and Irish cultural narratives.
Typical given names associated with the Forbes surname
Male
- Alexander
- Andrew
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Michael
- Peter
- Robert
- William
Female
- Alison
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Karen
- Linda
- Margaret
- Mary
- 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 Forbes in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Forbes are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Fig Roll.
There are approximately 17,096 people named Forbes in the UK. That makes it the 516th most common surname in Britain. Around 263 in a million people in Britain are named Forbes.
Surname type: From given name or forename
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Forbes
- Bryan Forbes - Film director, screenwriter and actor (1926 to 2013)
- Kate Forbes - Scottish politician
- Derek Forbes - Musician
- Lisa Forbes - Labour Party politician
- Emma Forbes - Radio and television presenter
- Ralph Forbes - Actor (1904 to 1951)
- B. C. Forbes - American journalist (1880 to 1954)
- Stanhope Forbes - Artist (1857 to 1947)
- Jason Forbes -
- William Forbes-Sempill, 19th Lord Sempill - Spy for Japan (1893 to 1965)
- Adrian Forbes - Football player
- William Gerald Forbes - Director (1934 to 1991)
- Mary Forbes - -American actress (1879 to 1974)
- Charles Forbes - Royal Navy admiral of the fleet (1880 to 1960)
- Maya Forbes - American screenwriter and director
- John Forbes - General in the French and Indian War (1707 to 1759)
- Meriel Forbes - Actress (1913 to 2000)
- Charles R. Forbes - American soldier (1878 to 1952)
- Tyler Hornby-Forbes - Football player
- Edward Forbes - Manx naturalist (1815 to 1854)
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.