Forrest is a common English surname deriving from Forest. Variant spellings include Forest, Foriest, De Forest, De Forrest, DeForest and DeForrest. It appears to originate in Scotland around the Edinburgh region. The Forrest clan fought with Bonnie Prince Charlie travelling down to England with the Scottish invasions of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Notable real persons with the name include:
- Alex Forrest (footballer), Scottish footballer
- Alexander Forrest, Australian explorer and politician
- Andrew Forrest, Australian mining entrepreneur
- Anne Marie Forrest, Irish writer
- Anthony Alexander Forrest, Australian rules footballer and soldier
- April Forrest, singer in girlgroup Jada UniversalMotown
- Arthur J. Forrest, Medal of Honor recipient
- Barbara Forrest, philosopher and critic of intelligent design
- Catriona Forrest, Scottish field hockey player
- Craig Forrest, Canadian soccer/football player
- Dan Forrest, American composer
- David Forrest (disambiguation), several people of that name
- Edwin Forrest, American actor
- Emmett Forrest (1927â€"2013), American collector and museum founder
- Eric Forrest, bass guitarist
- Frederic Forrest, American actor
- French Forrest, American Confederate naval officer
- George Forrest, several people
- Hal Forrest, American comics artist
- Helen Forrest, American big band singer
- Ina Forrest, Canadian wheelchair curler
- James Forrest (disambiguation), several people
- Jason Forrest, electronic music producer
- Jodi Forrest, American actress
- John Forrest (disambiguation), several people
- Joseph King Cummins Forrest, an original founder of The Chicago Tribune
- Katherine V. Forrest, American writer
- Kevin Forrest, American soccer player
- Linn A. Forrest, American architect
- Margaret Forrest, wife of John Forrest the explorer
- Maureen Milgram Forrest (1938â€"2013), British businesswoman
- Nathan Bedford Forrest, Confederate general
- Nathan Bedford Forrest III, American general
- Paula Forrest, Australian actress
- Peter Forrest, Australian cricketer
- Ray Forrest, American radio announcer
- Ruth Forrest, Tasmanian politician
- Sally Forrest, American actress
- Sam Forrest, singer and guitarist
- Steve Forrest (actor) (1925â€"2013), American actor
- Steve Forrest (musician), rock music drummer
- Ted Forrest, American poker player
- Thomas Forrest, American politician
- Thomas Forrest, Esq (1572-1641), Virginia Company Financier, husband of the first woman to come to America in 1608
- Uriah Forrest (1746-1805), Revolutionary War hero, U.S. Congressman and delegate for Maryland, and direct descendent of Thomas Forrest, Esq (1572-1641)
- Vernon Forrest (1971-2009), American boxer
- William Forrest (1902â€"1989), an American film actor
- William Forrest (disambiguation), several people
Notable fictional characters include:
- Duke Forrest, a character from the M*A*S*H novels
- Admiral Maxwell Forrest, a recurring character on Star Trek: Enterprise
See also
- Forest (disambiguation)
