Forrestal (surname)
Forrestal or Forristal (Irish: Ó Fuireastal), is an Irish surname common in the southeast of Ireland, namely in Kilkenny, Wexford and Waterford.
Alternate spellings
The name has been spelled in many different forms, all of which are related to the same family including; O'Forristal, Forrestal, Forristal, Forestal, Forestal, Forrestall, Foristal, and in medieval times, Forstall. Forestell is a variation found in Canada. Also, in Gaelic Irish as Ó Fuireastal, Mac Fuireastal, and Mac An Choill.[1]
History and ancestry
The Forristals were rooted in Glenmore parish, County Kilkenny, which is located in the southeast of Ireland where they held castles at Forristalstown, Carrickgloney and Mullinahone.[2]
The family is listed in the medieval records of Kilkenny and Waterford, and are shown aligning themselves, through marriage, with the O'Kelly (Irish: Ó Caellaighe) sept, who were the ancient Kings of upper Ossory, by the marriage of Edmond Forstall and Elizabeth O'Kelly, daughter of Walter O'Kelly.[3] Many of the modern day Forrestals descend from this noble union. Furthermore, they are also listed in the Irish genealogical records of the 17th century at the Library of Ireland in Dublin, showing intermarriage with the FitzGeralds, O'Neills, Alywards, Cantwells, O'Bolgers, Butlers of Ormond and O'Kennedys, which through these marriages they share common ancestors and bloodlines.
People
- James Forrestal, (1892–1949), United States Secretary of Defense
- Michael Forrestal, one of the leading aides to McGeorge Bundy, the national security adviser of President John F. Kennedy
- Laurence Forristal, (born 1931) retired Irish Roman Catholic prelate who served as the Bishop of Ossory from 1981 to 2007.
- Scott Forstall, American software engineer, best known for leading the original software development team for the iPhone and iPad.
- Edmund J. Forstall, developer of the Forstall System in 1842 in Louisiana
- Michael Forrestall, Canadian Senator & Member of Parliament
- Harry Forestell, Canadian Journalist
References
- ↑ "Forrestal households in mid-19th century Ireland". Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ↑ "The Forrestall Family Early Documented History". Retrieved May 5, 2016.
- ↑ Memorials of The Forstall Family. Genealogical Office, Dublin, Ireland: Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. 26 November 1999. pp. 439–444.