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

Forest, 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 Forest surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Forest in America

Forest is the 6661st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Forest surname appeared 5,076 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Forest.

We can also compare 2010 data for Forest 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 Forest

The surname FOREST originates in England and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "forest," meaning "wooded area," reflecting a connection to someone who lived near or worked in a forest.

In medieval times, surnames were often derived from a person's occupation or a distinguishing characteristic of their residence. The surname FOREST likely referred to individuals who lived in or near a forest or worked as foresters, responsible for managing and protecting woodlands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the FOREST surname appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1185, where it is listed as "Ricardus de Foresta." This Latin form translates to "Richard of the Forest," indicating that the surname was used to identify someone's association with a forested area.

Another early reference to the FOREST surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a "Rogerus de la Forest." This example demonstrates the use of the French preposition "de la" before the surname, indicating "of the Forest."

In the 14th century, the FOREST surname appeared in various forms, such as "Forester" and "Forster," reflecting the evolving spellings of the name over time. Notable individuals from this period include John Forster (c. 1350-1438), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament.

During the Tudor period, the FOREST surname continued to be recorded in various spellings, including "Fforyster" and "Fforster." One notable figure from this era was Sir John Fortescue (c. 1531-1607), an English jurist and author who wrote extensively on legal matters.

In the 17th century, the FOREST surname was further solidified in its modern spelling. John Forest (1638-1712), an English engraver and cartographer, was a notable bearer of the name during this period.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the FOREST surname was well-established in various parts of England. Notable individuals included Sir Benjamine Forest (1762-1838), a British naval officer who served in the American Revolutionary War, and Charles Forrest (1825-1911), an English cricketer who played for Nottinghamshire.

While the FOREST surname has its origins in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, reflecting the migration patterns of English settlers and immigrants over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Forest

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

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 Forest 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 Forest 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 Forest was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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