Save Type Surname (from location) Usage English, French Pronounced Pron. FAWR-ist(English) [key·IPA] Meaning & History Originally belonged to a person who lived near or in a forest. It was probably originally derived, via Old French forest, from Latin forestam (silva) meaning "outer (wood)". Related NamesDetails VariantsForester, Forrest, Foster(English) Deforest, Forestier(French) Given Name DescendantsForest, Forrest(English) Categories Catholic saints, martyrs, nature, trees, word names