Forbes Surname

The surname Forbes is an interesting surname with a rich history and widespread distribution across the globe. In this article, we will delve into the origins, meaning, and variations of the Forbes surname, as well as its prevalence in different countries.

Origins and Meaning

The surname Forbes has its roots in Scotland, specifically in the area of Aberdeenshire. The name is believed to have originated from the Gaelic word "fear" meaning man and "bhus" meaning bush, making it a topographical surname referring to someone who lived near a bushy area or thicket.

Alternatively, some sources suggest that the name Forbes may have Norman origins, as it appears in records as early as the 11th century following the Norman Conquest of England.

Variations

Over the centuries, the Forbes surname has evolved and taken on different variations, depending on factors such as regional accents, dialects, and spelling variations in official records. Some common variations of the Forbes surname include Forbess, Forbus, and Forbush.

These variations may have emerged as the surname was passed down through generations, with different family members adopting slightly different spellings of the name.

Prevalence in Different Countries

The Forbes surname has a significant presence in a wide range of countries around the world, with varying levels of incidence in each country. According to data, the United States has the highest incidence of the Forbes surname, followed by countries such as England, Canada, and Australia.

United States

In the United States, the Forbes surname is relatively common, with a total incidence of 45,485. This indicates that there are a substantial number of individuals with the Forbes surname living in various states across the country.

Individuals with the Forbes surname in the United States may have ancestors who emigrated from Scotland or other countries where the name is prevalent.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the Forbes surname is particularly prevalent in regions such as Scotland and England. Scotland, in particular, has a high incidence of the Forbes surname, with 7,139 individuals carrying the name.

England also has a significant number of individuals with the Forbes surname, with an incidence of 10,453. This indicates that the name has historical roots in the region and has been passed down through generations.

Canada

Canada is another country where the Forbes surname is fairly common, with an incidence of 9,251. This suggests that there are many Canadian families with Scottish or Norman ancestry who bear the Forbes surname.

Australia

In Australia, the Forbes surname is also present, with an incidence of 8,341. This indicates that the name has been carried over to the Australian population through migration and settlement over the years.

Other Countries

Aside from the aforementioned countries, the Forbes surname can also be found in countries such as South Africa, Jamaica, and the Bahamas, albeit with lower incidences. These countries likely have smaller populations of individuals with the Forbes surname, but the name's presence indicates its global reach.

In conclusion, the Forbes surname is a widely dispersed surname with roots in Scotland and possibly Norman origins. It has different variations and is prevalent in various countries around the world. The surname's history and distribution reflect the movement of people and the blending of cultures over time.

The surname Forbes within the globe

Globalization has meant that surnames distribute far beyond their country of origin, so that it is achievable to get African surnames in Europe or Indian surnames in Oceania. Equivalent occurs in the case of Forbes, which as you can corroborate, it can be said it is a surname that may be found in the majority of the countries of this globe. In the same manner you will find nations in which certainly the thickness of individuals because of the surname Forbes is greater than in other countries.

The map of the Forbes surname

View Forbes surname map

The chance of examining on a globe map about which nations hold a greater number of Forbes on earth, helps us a lot. By putting ourselves on the map, for a tangible country, we are able to understand tangible number of people with all the surname Forbes, to acquire in this way the particular information of all the Forbes that you could presently find in that country. All this also assists us to know not merely in which the surname Forbes originates from, but also in what way the folks who're initially an element of the family members that bears the surname Forbes have moved and moved. In the same manner, you are able to see by which places they will have settled and developed, and that's why if Forbes is our surname, this indicates interesting to which other countries of this world it will be possible any particular one of our ancestors once relocated to.

Countries with more Forbes in the world

  1. United States United States (45485)
  2. England England (10453)
  3. Canada Canada (9251)
  4. Australia Australia (8341)
  5. Jamaica Jamaica (7218)
  6. Scotland Scotland (7139)
  7. South Africa South Africa (4570)
  8. Bahamas Bahamas (3017)
  9. Philippines Philippines (2789)
  10. New Zealand New Zealand (1770)
  11. Turks and Caicos Islands Turks and Caicos Islands (1423)
  12. Colombia Colombia (1041)
  13. Nothern Ireland Nothern Ireland (856)
  14. Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (804)
  15. Panama Panama (675)
  16. Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago (646)
  17. Nicaragua Nicaragua (569)
  18. Ireland Ireland (402)
  19. Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia (395)
  20. Namibia Namibia (383)
  21. Wales Wales (361)
  22. Costa Rica Costa Rica (336)
  23. France France (257)
  24. Cayman Islands Cayman Islands (232)
  25. British Virgin Islands British Virgin Islands (230)
  26. Honduras Honduras (183)
  27. Dominican Republic Dominican Republic (169)
  28. Kenya Kenya (169)
  29. U.S. Virgin Islands U.S. Virgin Islands (142)
  30. Singapore Singapore (136)
  31. Brazil Brazil (128)
  32. Spain Spain (114)
  33. Argentina Argentina (106)
  34. Portugal Portugal (85)
  35. Germany Germany (83)
  36. Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (82)
  37. Mexico Mexico (81)
  38. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (79)
  39. India India (75)
  40. Netherlands Netherlands (67)
  41. Qatar Qatar (63)
  42. Belize Belize (58)
  43. Guatemala Guatemala (47)
  44. Guyana Guyana (46)
  45. Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis (43)
  46. Bermuda Bermuda (41)
  47. Venezuela Venezuela (39)
  48. Jersey Jersey (36)
  49. Botswana Botswana (33)
  50. Grenada Grenada (31)
  51. Malaysia Malaysia (31)
  52. Switzerland Switzerland (29)
  53. Sweden Sweden (28)
  54. Isle of Man Isle of Man (27)
  55. Nigeria Nigeria (24)
  56. Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda (23)
  57. China China (22)
  58. Italy Italy (21)
  59. Belgium Belgium (21)
  60. Greece Greece (21)
  61. Cuba Cuba (20)
  62. Ecuador Ecuador (18)
  63. Thailand Thailand (18)
  64. Chile Chile (18)
  65. Norway Norway (17)
  66. Guam Guam (16)
  67. Indonesia Indonesia (11)
  68. United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates (11)
  69. Swaziland Swaziland (9)
  70. Gambia Gambia (9)
  71. Denmark Denmark (8)
  72. Austria Austria (8)
  73. Northern Mariana Islands Northern Mariana Islands (8)
  74. Israel Israel (6)
  75. Oman Oman (6)
  76. Czech Republic Czech Republic (6)
  77. Anguilla Anguilla (6)
  78. Japan Japan (5)
  79. Taiwan Taiwan (5)
  80. Cook Islands Cook Islands (5)
  81. Iraq Iraq (4)
  82. Egypt Egypt (4)
  83. Ethiopia Ethiopia (4)
  84. Finland Finland (4)
  85. Fiji Fiji (4)
  86. South Korea South Korea (4)
  87. Kuwait Kuwait (4)
  88. Tonga Tonga (4)
  89. Ghana Ghana (4)
  90. Uruguay Uruguay (4)
  91. Afghanistan Afghanistan (3)
  92. Monaco Monaco (3)
  93. Macao Macao (3)
  94. Hong Kong Hong Kong (3)
  95. Peru Peru (2)
  96. Jordan Jordan (2)
  97. Barbados Barbados (2)
  98. Saint Lucia Saint Lucia (2)
  99. Lithuania Lithuania (2)
  100. Bolivia Bolivia (2)
  101. Uganda Uganda (2)
  102. Vietnam Vietnam (1)
  103. Nepal Nepal (1)
  104. Cyprus Cyprus (1)
  105. Zambia Zambia (1)
  106. Northern Cyprus Northern Cyprus (1)
  107. Iceland Iceland (1)
  108. Poland Poland (1)
  109. Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (1)
  110. Algeria Algeria (1)
  111. Armenia Armenia (1)
  112. Angola Angola (1)
  113. Romania Romania (1)
  114. Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan (1)
  115. Aruba Aruba (1)
  116. Azerbaijan Azerbaijan (1)
  117. Slovakia Slovakia (1)
  118. Bulgaria Bulgaria (1)
  119. Brunei Brunei (1)
  120. Turkey Turkey (1)
  121. Guernsey Guernsey (1)
  122. Myanmar Myanmar (1)
  123. Tanzania Tanzania (1)
  124. Ukraine Ukraine (1)
  125. Mauritius Mauritius (1)
  126. Haiti Haiti (1)
  127. Hungary Hungary (1)