Surname Forbess - Meaning and Origin

Forbess: What does the surname Forbess mean?

The surname Forbess is of Scottish origin and belongs to the category of patronymic surnames, i.e., derived from the personal name of an ancestor. It is believed to be a variant of the name Forbes, which is rooted in the Gaelic term "forba," meaning field and "ais," meaning waterfall or burn. Typically, the name Forbes is associated with territories in Aberdeenshire, where the family held a seat from ancient times. Thus, someone bearing the surname Forbess may have ancestral ties to this region. Additionally, the family's coat of arms includes three bear's heads, suggesting a possible connection to strength, courage, or ferocity. However, like all surnames, individual lines of the Forbess family can vary in origin and significance, with the meanings changing based on geographical locations and translation over time. Actual meaning can only be confirmed through professional genealogical research.

Forbess: Where does the name Forbess come from?

The last name Forbess is likely of Scottish origin, deriving from the Scottish clan Forbes. Forbes is a Scottish clan from Aberdeenshire, Scotland and was a powerful force in Scottish politics from the 14th to 16th centuries. The name Forbes is thought to be derived from the Gaelic term "forba," meaning field, combined with "ais," meaning a place.

Forbes was anglicized in various ways as Scots emigrated to other English-speaking countries, and one of these variations is Forbess. Nicknames and typonyms were common forms of spelling variation for both given names and surnames in ancient Scotland. Many other similar names also derive from Forbes, including Forbs, Forbe, Forby, Forbar, Forbear and many more.

As for its prevalence today, while it's not a particularly common name, Forbess can be found most frequently in the United States, mainly in the Southern states. Genealogical data indicates a certain concentration of people with the Forbess name in states like Texas, California, and Missouri. However, this distribution can heavily depend on the migration patterns of individual families, and may not be fully reflective of the origin places.

Variations of the surname Forbess

The surname Forbess has several variants and spellings, some of which are related to the geographical origins or transliterations of the name. The name is quite rare and uniquely spelled, but it is believed to have been derived from 'Forbes', a prominent Scottish name.

Variations of the name Forbes include Forbis, Forbus, Forbys, Forbois, Forbess, and Forber. Similarly, the surname could be spelled as Forbaes, Forbse, Forbuis, Forbeis, and even Forbush in some regions.

Moreover, other spelling variants like Fforbes, Ffoulis, and Ffoulhus have been seen primarily in Scotland.

In some cases, clerical errors may result in a variety of other, less common, spellings of the name. These errors were usually a result of the phonetic transcription of the name by those recording it.

Surnames similar to Forbes may have separate origins and meanings; such as Furbish, which is of Anglo-Saxon origin or Furbush, an American variant.

However, it should be noted that without specific genealogical research, it can be challenging to definitively link these names to Forbess as they require historical and ancestral context.

Famous people with the name Forbess

• Samuel W. Forbess, American politician in the United States House of Representatives for the first and second district of Georgia from 1895-1903.
• Angela Berrisford Forbess, American female college basketball coach and executive in college athletics.
• George Forbess, British American inventor and businessman who founded the Forbess Corporation in 1899.
• Ray Forbess, American musician, recording artist, and songwriter, and founding member and lead singer for the punk band “The Flaming Lips”.
• Isaac Forbess, American professional baseball pitcher for the Cleveland Naps in the early 1900s.
• James Forbess, American actor, best known for his roles in the films “The Great Escape” and “Apocalypse Now”.
• Ruth Forbess, American female film producer, most notably for the film “The Fifth Element”.
• Thomas Forbess, Australian soldier and philanthropist who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his service during World War I.
• Billy Forbess, American race car driver who competed in the NASCAR Grand National Series in the 1940s and 1950s.
• William Forbess, English composer and arranger known for his works in the genres of jazz and light orchestral music.

Other surnames

Forbes