Show ContentsLaforey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Laforey is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties. As a general rule, the greater the distance between an individual and their homeland, the larger the territory they were named after. For example, a person who only moved to another parish would be known by the name of their original village, while people who migrated to a different country were often known by the name of a region or country from which they came. The name Foret is derived from the Old French word "foret," meaning "forest," and distinguished a person who lived in or near such a place. In some cases it may have been used as an occupational surname for a forester.

Early Origins of the Laforey family

The surname Laforey was first found in Savoy (French: Savoie) in the Rhône-Alpes region of the French Alps, where this renowned family held a family seat from ancient times.

In England, the Forey spelling was preferred as the "ey" provided the long "a" sound instead of the typical "êt" spelling used in France which provided the same sound.

Early History of the Laforey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Laforey research. Another 345 words (25 lines of text) covering the years 1310, 1442, 1534, 1537, 1539, 1580, 1620, 1636, 1638, 1659, 1712, 1726, 1729, 1753, 1767, 1789, 1790, 1793, 1796, 1804, 1835 and 1872 are included under the topic Early Laforey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Laforey Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Foret, Forest, Forez, Forait, Foraie, Forais, Foraies, Foré, Forêt, Forêst, Forer, Forey, La Foret, La Forest, La Forez, La Forait, La Foraie, La Forais, La Foraies, La Foré, La Forêt, La Forêst, Laforest, La Forer and many more.

Early Notables of the Laforey family

Notable in the family name at this time was

  • Admiral Sir John LaForey (1729-1796) was second son of John Laforey (d. 1753), one of the French Huguenot family La Foret which settled in England at the time of William III. 1
  • The Laforey Baronetcy, of Whitby in the County of Devon, England was a title in the Baronetage of Great Britain. It was created on 2 December 1789 for the naval commander John Laforey (c. 1729-1796.)...

Migration of the Laforey family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Christian Forer who settled in Philadelphia in 1754; Daniel Forer settled in Philadelphia in 1754; Daniel Forest settled in Virginia in 1651; George Forest settled in Virginia in 1607.



The Laforey Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Tout travers
Motto Translation: All through


  1. Lee, Sir Stanley, Dictionary of National Biography. London: The MacMillan Company 1909. Print


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