Does anyone know the meaning and origin of the last name FORBES?

Question

My last name... No idea were it cmes from. Just curious

Answer 1

The name Forbes, or Forbis, the way it is spelled by my family members, came from Scotland and Ireland from the Celts, and is the Gaelic version for the word 'field', like Fields is the surname from 'field' in English. Hope this helps!

Answer 2

I'm confused as to where the spelling Forbs cam into the picture, since my family name is spelled with two s's, Forbess. I understand that the Scottish version of Forbes was pronounced with two syllables.

Answer 3

A very prominent family in North East Scotland. Duncan Forbes of Culloden was Lord Presdient of the Court of Session in the 18th century. His statue is still in Parliament House, Edinburgh.

Answer 4

In medieval Scotland a Forb was someone who made the little sprung loaded traps for catching mice. Therefore anyone with the name Forbes is most likely a meece catcher.

Answer 5

Forbes:

1. Scottish, habitational surname from Aberdeen, from Gaelic "forba"-field, district & a local suffix "-ais." This was originally said as two syllables, "Forba-Ae."

2. Irish, Anglicized Gaelic "Mac Fearbhisigh," a patronymic surname, or having to do with a fathers' given name, from the name "Firbhsigh," from Celtic meaning "man+prosperity."

Answer 6

Locality. Lands free from military service, called Saor Forba, or free lands. The name of a parish in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Answer 7

Some names are corruptions of old trades and very hard to pin down with any accuracy. There are books on the subject in the library.

Answer 8

geaneology.com