Show ContentsRogerson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Rogerson reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Rogerson family as they migrated following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Rogerson is based on the Old French given name Rogier, which meant famous spear.

Early Origins of the Rogerson family

The surname Rogerson was first found in Aberdeenshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Obar Dheathain), a historic county, and present day Council Area of Aberdeen, located in the Grampian region of northeastern Scotland from ancient times, some say as early as the 11th century. According to Camden, the noted historian of the 16th century, this name Roger was a valiant captain who came to England, thence to Scotland from Normandy in the train of William, Duke of Normandy and was at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D. This is most likely to be Roger, Earl of Hereford, who was forfeited in 1075 and moved north into Scotland after the devastation of the northland by Duke William. The name is sometimes interpreted from MacRory, or the son of Rory but it is more likely to be from Hrothgar.

Early History of the Rogerson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rogerson research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1364, 1410 and 1424 are included under the topic Early Rogerson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rogerson Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Rogerson has been recorded under many different variations, including Rogerson, Rodgerson, Rodgersone, Rogersone, Rodgeson and many more.

Early Notables of the Rogerson family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • John Rogerson of Edinburgh

Rogerson Ranking

In the United States, the name Rogerson is the 11,465th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Ireland Migration of the Rogerson family to Ireland

Some of the Rogerson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 42 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Rogerson migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Rogersons were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Rogerson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Ellin Rogerson, aged 20, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Transport" 2
  • Theodor Rogerson, aged 20, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 2
Rogerson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Richard Rogerson, who settled in New England in 1706
Rogerson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Rogerson, aged 35, who landed in New York in 1812 2
  • James Rogerson, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1820
  • Aspden Rogerson, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1838 2
  • John Rogerson, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 2

Canada Rogerson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rogerson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Jannet Rogerson, who settled in St. John Island in 1774

Australia Rogerson migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Rogerson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Jonathan Rogerson, English convict who was convicted in Cumbria (Cumberland), England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Eden" on 27th August 1836, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3
  • Martin Rogerson, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Navarino" in 1837 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Rogerson (post 1700) +

  • John Bolton Rogerson (1809-1859), English poet, born at Manchester
  • Daniel John Rogerson (b. 1975), English Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for North Cornwall
  • Roger Caleb Rogerson (1941-2024), Australian former Detective-Sergeant of the New South Wales Police Force
  • Iain Rogerson (1960-2017), English actor, best known for his portrayal of Harry Flagg in Coronation Street
  • Staff Sergeant Sidney George Rogerson GC, British officer awarded the George Cross for "most conspicuous gallantry"
  • Simon Rogerson, Professor with the Faculty of Computing Sciences and Engineering, at De Montfort University, England


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) NAVARINO 1837. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1837Navarino.htm


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