Find out how popular the last name Forbis is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Forbis.

Forbis, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Forbis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Forbis in America

Forbis is the 14591st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Forbis surname appeared 2,040 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Forbis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Forbis to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Forbis

The surname FORBIS is believed to have originated in Scotland, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is thought to be a variant of the name Forbes, which itself is derived from the Gaelic term "for-bash," meaning "field" or "territory." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived or worked on a particular piece of land.

The earliest recorded instances of the name FORBIS can be traced back to the 13th and 14th centuries in various Scottish documents and records. One notable example is the appearance of a William Forbus in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1369. Additionally, the name has been found in the Ragman Rolls, a collection of homage rolls from the late 13th century, which recorded the names of Scottish nobles who swore fealty to King Edward I of England.

Throughout history, several individuals bearing the surname FORBIS have made their mark in various fields. One notable figure was Sir John Forbis (1592-1662), a Scottish soldier and landowner who fought for the Royalist cause during the English Civil War. Another was William Forbis (1634-1685), a Scottish minister and theologian who served as the principal of the University of Glasgow.

In the realm of literature, the name FORBIS is associated with the Scottish author and poet, John Forbis (1784-1861), whose works explored themes of Scottish culture and history. Additionally, the name has been linked to the Forbis family of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, a prominent clan with a long history in the region.

Other notable individuals with the surname FORBIS include:

1. Robert Forbis (1670-1734), a Scottish merchant and member of the British East India Company.
2. James Forbis (1712-1778), a Scottish minister and educator who served as the rector of the Royal High School in Edinburgh.
3. Elizabeth Forbis (1781-1847), a Scottish philanthropist and advocate for education and women's rights.
4. Alexander Forbis (1815-1892), a Scottish-born Australian explorer and surveyor who played a significant role in mapping the Australian outback.
5. Margaret Forbis (1888-1962), a Scottish-American author and journalist known for her works on Scottish heritage and culture.

While the surname FORBIS may not be as widely recognized as some other Scottish names, its history and connections to various notable figures highlight its enduring legacy and significance within Scottish heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Forbis

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Forbis.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Forbis was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Forbis has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Forbis was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Forbis, please contact us.

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