DeForest (and variant spellings) is a surname and a given name.
DeForest is a name of French origin, and it means "from the forest". The name Deforest is a combination of two words, "de" and "forest". The prefix "de" is derived from the Latin word "de", which means "from" or "of". The word "forest" is derived from the Latin word "forestis", which means "woodland".
Notable people with the name include:
Contents
Surname
Autumn de Forest (born 2001), American painter
Brady Brim-DeForest (born 1980), American business executive and philanthropist.
Calvert DeForest (1921–2007), American actor and comedian, best known for his appearances on David Letterman's shows
Carmaig de Forest (born 1957), American singer-songwriter, mainly on the ukulele
Charles DeForest (1924–1996), American jazz singer and songwriter
Charlotte Burgis DeForest (1879–1973), American missionary and educator
Craig DeForest (born 1968), American astrophysicist
Elizabeth Kellam de Forest (1898–1984), American landscape architect and editor
Emmelie de Forest (born 1993), Danish singer-songwriter
Erastus L. De Forest (1834–1888), American mathematician
George Beach de Forest Jr. (1848–1932), American capitalist, bibliophile, and art collector
Henry deForest (1855–1938), American railroad executive
Henry S. De Forest (1847–1917), American politician from New York
Jessé de Forest (c. 1576 to 1578–1624), leader of a group of Walloons who fled Europe due to religious persecutions
Joe DeForest (born 1965), American college football coach
John William De Forest (1826–1906), American soldier and writer of realistic fiction
John de Forest (1907–1997), English golfer, later known as John de Bendern
Julie Morrow Deforest (1882–1979), American impressionist painter
Kenny DeForest (1986–2023), American comedian
Lee de Forest (1873–1961), American inventor, electrical engineer, and early pioneer in important electronics
Lockwood de Forest (1850–1932), American painter, interior designer and furniture designer
Marian de Forest (1864–1935), American journalist, playwright, and women's movement figure
Maurice de Forest (1879–1968), American-born British politician, soldier, and early motor racing driver
Patsy De Forest (1894–1966), American silent film actress
Robert E. De Forest (1845–1924), American politician
Robert W. DeForest (1848–1931), American lawyer, executive, financier, and philanthropist
Roy De Forest (1930–2007), American painter, sculptor, and teacher
Given name
DeForest Buckner (born 1994), American football defensive end
DeForest Covan (1917–2007), American actor, dancer, and vaudeville performer
D. C. Jarvis (1881–1966), American physician and writer
DeForest Kelley (1920–1999), American actor, best known for playing Dr. Leonard McCoy in the Star Trek franchise
DeForest H. Perkins (1872–1936), American Ku Klux Klan leader
DeForest Porter (1840–1889), American jurist and politician
DeForest Richards (1846–1903), American banker, farmer, and politician
DeForest Soaries (born 1951), African-American Baptist minister, author and public advocate
DeForest Stull (1885–1938), American football and basketball coach