Contents [hide]

Roos History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Roos History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland/England
England
Germany
Scotland
Ireland

The old Scottish-Dalriadan name Roos is derived from the given name Andrew, which is derived from Anrias, a progenitor of both the Ross Clan and the MacKenzies. Anrias was descended from the O'Beolans, an Irish Gaelic tribe of the sixth and seventh centuries who first brought Christianity to Scotland. The name may also be a nickname derived from the Old English word rouse, which means red or red-haired.

Early Origins of the Roos family

The surname Roos was first found in the old monastery of Applecross founded by St. Maelrubha where they were hereditary abbots who later created the Earls of Ross. Their territory was Faster Ross and the first documented Chief was Fearchar Mac ant-Saqairt (a Farquhar), the priest's son, who helped King Alexander II against the old Celtic dynasty. Farquhar joined forces with the King to crush a rebellion in the province of Moray in 1215. Even though he was a direct descendent of the Irish King Niall of the Nine Hostages, he was granted a Norman knighthood by King Alexander and, a few years later, the Earldom of Ross (1234).

At this time, Tain, an early shrine created by St. Dutlac, was the capital of Ross. Now a ruin, it played an important role in Scotland's religious history during the Middle Ages. In the late 15th and early 16th century King James IV made annual pilgrimages there. However, battered by its enemies, and many of its relics destroyed by changing religious influences, the capital was transferred to the town of Dingwall.

Early History of the Roos family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Roos research. Another 287 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1372, 1390, 1400, 1600, 1656, 1682, 1715, 1745 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Roos History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Roos Spelling Variations

Translation in medieval times was an undeveloped science and was often carried out without due care. For this reason, many early Scottish names appeared radically altered when written in English. The spelling variations of Roos include Ros, Roose, Ross, Ruse and others.

Early Notables of the Roos family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was William, 5th Earl of Ross (died 1372); Euphemia, William's daughter became a heiress who carried the title by marriage to Sir Walter Leslie, the title passed to the Lord of the Isles through their son; Sir Andrew Leslie, though before that...
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Roos Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Roos World Ranking

In the United States, the name Roos is the 8,251^st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Roos is ranked the 2,898^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,000 - 2,500 people with that name. 2 And in Netherlands, the name Roos is the 94^th popular surname with an estimated 10,635 people with that name. 3 South Africa ranks Roos as 499^th with 14,434 people. 4

Migration of the Roos family to Ireland

Some of the Roos family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Roos migration to the United States +

These settlers arrived in North America at a time when the east was burgeoning with prosperous colonies and the expanses of the west were just being opened up. The American War of Independence was also imminent. Some Scots stayed to fight for a new country, while others who remained loyal went north as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of them went on to rediscover their heritage in the 20th century through highland games and other patriotic Scottish events. The Roos were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Roos Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Cornelia Roos, aged 4, who arrived in New York in 1659 5

Roos Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Kristoffel Roos, who landed in New York in 1709 5
Andreas Roos, who landed in New York, NY in 1710-1714 5
Gerret Roos, who landed in New York in 1715 5
Francis Roos, who arrived in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania in 1741 5
Caspar Roos, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1752 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Roos Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Simon Roos, who arrived in New York in 1835 5
Mr. Georg Herm. Roos, aged 18, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Garonne"
Margareta Katharina Roos, who arrived in Brazil in 1845 5
Mr. Anton Roos, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Element"
Jacob Roos, who arrived in Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Element" 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Roos migration to Australia +

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

Roos Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Elizabeth Roos, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Ramillies" in 1849 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Roos (post 1700) +

Michael Y. Roos, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1988 7
Lawrence K. Roos, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Missouri, 1956, 1972 7
John V. Roos, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 2008 7
Frederick B. Roos, American Republican politician, Member of Illinois State Senate 7th District; Elected 1922 7
Elbert S. Roos, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1892 7
Caroline Kreisel Roos, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Ohio, 2008 7
Timo Antero Roos (1936-2023), Finnish teacher and politician
William Roos (1808-1878), born as Roose, Welsh painter born in Amlwch, was the most productive Welsh painter of the first three quarters of the nineteenth century. He has an exhibition, the largest ever showing of his work, through The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Oriel Môn Trust 8
Bertil Roos (1943-2016), Swedish racing driver from Gothenburg
Major-General Harald Vilhelm Roos (1895-1969), Finnish Chief of Supply & Transport at General Headquarters (1941-1944) 9

The Roos 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: Spem successus alit
Motto Translation: Success nourishes hope

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
"Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) RAMILIES 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Ramillies.htm
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
https://www.orielmon.org/en-gb/whats-on/william-roos-portrait-of-an-artist
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 5) Harald Roos. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Roos/Harald_Vilhelm/Finland.html