Surname DeForrest - Meaning and Origin
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DeForrest: What does the surname DeForrest mean?
The last name DeForrest is of French origin and has several possible meanings and origins. In some cases, the name may be derived from an old French word meaning "of the forest." Alternatively, it could be derived from the word forrestier, meaning "woodsman." It is also possible that the name is derived from the French word forêt, meaning "forest."
The DeForrest surname was common in France in the Middle Ages, particularly in the Loire Valley. It is believed to have originated either from a place-name or from a descriptive nickname for someone who lived near the woods or forest. A popular medieval knight, Guillaume de Forest, was one of the first recorded bearers of the name.
Today, the name is fairly common on multiple continents, including North America and Europe. It is a great example of how many people have been able to reach a far and broad range of countries through their ancestry. While the exact meaning and origin of the name remain a bit of a mystery, it is definitely a surname with interesting story.
Order DNA origin analysisDeForrest: Where does the name DeForrest come from?
The surname DeForrest is most commonly found in the United States today. It can be found in various states including Michigan, Wisconsin, California, and Texas. It derives from a French name, D'Aufforest, which is composed of two elements. The first element is the French definite article "le", meaning "the", and the second is Aufforest, which is a locational name stemming from a place located in Eure-et-Loir, in north-central France. The meaning of the place name is derived from the Latin words "auf" or "au", meaning "at" or "towards", and "foresta", meaning "forest".
Generally speaking, DeForrest is usually spelled with two "o's", rather than one. It is a relatively uncommon name, ranking for the 37,066th most popular surname in the United States according to the 2000 census. Within the states mentioned, it is more popular in California and Michigan, with California ranking 5,816th most popular and Michigan ranking 16,327th.
DeForrest surname is also found in Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as in various other countries throughout the world. Despite being a French-derived surname, DeForrest has spread throughout various countries, suggesting that individuals with this surname have made significant contributions to the world from early times to present day.
Variations of the surname DeForrest
The DeForrest surname has multiple versions, spellings and variant surnames of the same origin, which include De Forrest, De Forreste, De Forest, De Foreste, Forrest, and Forreste.
The earliest form of the DeForrest surname can be traced back to the Middle Ages in Scotland and England. In Scotland, the surname evolved from the surname MacForsyth, which was derived from the old Scots word ffor' or for and wood or saugh (willow). In England, the name evolved from de Foresta which was a habitational name derived from Middle English forrest which means “forest”. It likely would have originating as a toponymic name, referring to someone who lived in or near a forest.
Variant spellings of the DeForrest name include DeForsyth and De Forsythe, which were both used in Scotland. In England, the variant spelling DeForest can be found, which is derived from the French surname de Foresta. In France, the variant spelling de Forrest originated—likely from the Flemish word forest meaning “forest”.
Surnames that evolved from DeForrest include Fforrest, Fforrester, Forrest, Forrester, and Forester. All of these surnames refer to someone who is related to the original DeForrest family. The English surname Forester, for instance, can be traced back to the Middle English forrester meaning “forester” or a person who belongs to the forest.
In conclusion, the DeForrest surname has multiple versions, spellings and variant surnames of the same origin, including De Forrest, De Forreste, De Forest, De Foreste, Forrest, and Forreste. Additionally, names that may have evolved from the DeForrest surname include Fforrest, Fforrester, Forrest, Forrester, and Forester.
Famous people with the name DeForrest
- Marques DeForrest: American track and field athlete who specialized in the 110 meter hurdles.
- Georgia DeForrest: British actress who made multiple appearances on stage, radio, television, and film throughout the 1960s and ‘70s.
- Alison DeForrest: American singer and actress in musicals and operas for the New York and Philadelphia stages.
- Hans DeForrest: German historian who specialized in the pre-modern period of the Holy Roman Empire.
- Nathan DeForrest: American strongman athlete most well-known for his extraordinary feats of strength.
- dag50 DeForrest: Semi-professional football player in the early 20th century.
- John DeForrest: Singer in the ‘90s boy band Code Blue.
- Bob DeForrest: Jazz guitar player and scientist in the 1950s, whose songs were frequently featured on the US radio.
- Horace DeForrest: Automotive engineer and inventor of the first gasoline-powered bus.
- Holly DeForrest: American lawyer who served as a senior legal advisor for multiple government agencies throughout the decades.