DeForest (name)

DeForest (and variant spellings) can be used as a surname or 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:

Surname

 * Autumn de Forest (born 2001), American painter
 * Brady Brim-DeForest (born 1980), American business executive who serves as CEO of technology at S4 Capital under Martin Sorrell
 * Calvert DeForest (1921–2007), American actor and comedian, best known for his appearances on David Letterman's shows
 * Carmaig de Forest, American singer-songwriter, mainly on the ukulele
 * Charles DeForest (1924–1996), American jazz singer and songwriter
 * Craig DeForest, American astrophysicist
 * Emmelie de Forest (born 1993), Danish singer-songwriter
 * Henry deForest (1855–1938), American railroad executive who served as chair for the Southern Pacific Railroad's board of directors
 * Henry S. De Forest (1847–1917), American politician from New York
 * Jessé de Forest (1576–1624), 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
 * Kenny DeForest (1986–2023), American comedian
 * Lee de Forest (1873–1961), American inventor with over 300 patents to his credit
 * 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), English motor racing driver, aviator and Liberal politician
 * Robert E. De Forest (1845–1924), American politician from Connecticut
 * Roy De Forest (1930–2007), American painter

Given name

 * DeForest Buckner (born 1994), American football defensive end
 * DeForest Covan (1917–2007), American actor, dancer, and vaudeville performer
 * DeForest Kelley (1920–1999), American actor, best known for playing Dr. Leonard McCoy in the Star Trek franchise
 * DeForest H. Perkins, 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
 * Humphrey DeForest Bogart (1899-1957), American screen and stage actor

Variants

 * DeForrest