Show ContentsLaroux History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

From the historical and enchanting region of France emerged a multitude of notable family names, including that of the distinguished Laroux family. Originally, the people in this region went by one (personal) name. Surnames evolved during the Middle Ages when people began to assume an extra name to avoid confusion and to further identify themselves. These names then began to become "fixed" or hereditary between the generations. One of the types of names adopted as surnames were those derived from nicknames. Nicknames, or "eke-names," were an added name that generally reflected some physical characteristics or other attribute of the person that used the name. The Laroux surname derives from the Old French word "rous," meaning "red," or "red-haired;" and as such was a nickname for someone with red hair, or perhaps for a person with a ruddy or reddish complexion, or who dressed habitually in the colour red.

Early Origins of the Laroux family

The surname Laroux was first found in Périgord, where this impressive family held a family seat since ancient times. Another branch of the family held lands near Rouen in Normandy since 1165. Ralph le Roux was sent in 1119 by Henry I to the aid of Ralph de Guader and in 1120 was one of the nobles who died with Prince Henry in the Blanche. The English line descends from Turchil Rufus or Le Rous, who landed in England in 1066 and held lands in Norfolk. 1

A later English branch was found at Imber in Wiltshire. "The church [of Imber] is an ancient structure, in the early and decorated English styles, with some relics of Norman detail, and contains two monuments with the recumbent effigies of Knights Templars of the family of Le Rouse, chamberlains to Henry II and Edward III." 2

Early History of the Laroux family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Laroux research. Another 301 words (22 lines of text) covering the years 1372, 1389, 1404, 1429, 1555, 1631, 1660, 1668, 1707, 1788, 1814 and 1829 are included under the topic Early Laroux History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Laroux Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Leroux, Lerout, Lerou, Leroulx, Leroud, Lerous, de Roux, Lerou, Laroux, La Roux, La Rou, La Rous and many more.

Early Notables of the Laroux family

More information is included under the topic Early Laroux Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Laroux migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Laroux Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Jonas LaRoux, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1719 3
  • John LaRoux, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1739 3
  • George LaRoux, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1740 3
  • Abraham LaRoux, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1757 3
Laroux Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Augustus LaRoux, who arrived in Mobile County, Ala in 1845 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Laroux (post 1700) +

  • Carmen Laroux (1909-1942), Mexican film actress, born in Durango, Mexico, she appeared in 19 films between 1927 and 1941, best known for her role as Senorita Rita in the Three Stooges film "Saved by the Belle"
  • Ariane Laroux (b. 1957), Franco-Swiss painter, draughstman and printmaker, born in Paris


  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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