Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.
FORBES
There are approximately 19,870 people named Forbes in the UK. That makes it the 510th most common surname overall. Out of every million people in the UK, approximately 314 are named Forbes.
Region of origin
British Isles
Country of origin
Scotland
Language of origin
Gaelic
Religion of origin
Christian
Classification
Celtic
From given name or forename
Related and similar surnames
FarbFerbes
Farbes
Faerbes
Fearbes
Farbs
Ferbs
Farbies
Farbe
Ferbe
Ferbas
Fawbes
Faubes
Ferbos
Farbus
Ferbis
Ferbus
Farebe
Farbos
Farbas
Fairbe
The Forbes surname in historical dictionaries
An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857)
(origin: Local) Lands free from military service, called Saor Forba, or free lands. The name of a parish in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Patronymica Britannica (1860)
FORBES. A town and barony in Aberdeenshire. The family jiossessedthat lordship as early as temp. AVilliam the Lion,
Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.