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:
Alexander Forrest, Australian explorer
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 (1927–2013), 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
Joe Forrest, American Football/Baseball Coach Trade Show Exhibit Expert
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 (1938–2013), 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) (1925–2013), 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)
Thorne Forrest, P. Eng., Traffic Engineer
Vernon Forrest (1971-2009), American boxer
William Forrest (1902–1989), 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