About Forbes
The surname Forbes is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Gaelic word "forba," meaning "field" or "plain." It is a locational surname, indicating that the original bearers of the name were associated with a place named Forbes. The name is predominantly found in Scotland and is associated with the Clan Forbes, one of the oldest and most noble Scottish clans. Over time, individuals with the surname Forbes have spread across the world, particularly during periods of Scottish migration, and the name has become well-known internationally.
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The surname Forbes is a unique entry in our records. Discover more about its distribution and characteristics:
Below is the ethnic distribution of the surname Forbes based on recent US Census records. This is a brief glimpse into the diverse backgrounds of people carrying this surname.
Ranking information for the surname Forbes is not currently available.
Here's how to represent Forbes in Braille, each pattern of raised dots corresponds to a letter in the name.
The image below shows how you can spell Forbes using American Sign Language (ASL). In sign language, each hand shape corresponds to a specific a letter of the name.