Show ContentsRosecrans History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Schleswig-Holstein, which is the northernmost state in western Germany, is the homeland of the proud surname Rosecrans. By and large, hereditary surnames were formed in Germany when areas of Schleswig, and most of the German states, were a part of the Holy Roman Empire. At this time, as the population of Europe swelled and travel became easier, people began to encounter others sharing their own name and they avoided confusion by adopting a second name. Common forms of surnames found in Schleswig are those that are derived from nicknames.

Early Origins of the Rosecrans family

The surname Rosecrans was first found in Schleswig-Holstein, where this family became prominent contributors to the development of the district from ancient times. Always prominent in social affairs, the name became an integral part of that turbulent region as they emerged to form alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation. Translated literally, the name means "crown of roses." In the year 1325, Holger Rosenkranz traveled to Rome from Denmark to receive a crown of roses from the pope, which he then incorporated into his coat-of-arms. He was the son of Knight Erich von Rosenkranz, and owned the estates of Bollar in Jutland. He married Margaretha von Flemming, from the nobility of Norway, thus extending the family estates into that country.

Early History of the Rosecrans family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rosecrans research. Another 176 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1517, 1519, 1523, 1525, 1560, 1568, 1575, 1596, 1603, 1608, 1614, 1628, 1634, 1651, 1659, 1670, 1674, 1675, 1676, 1685, 1697, 1700, 1723, 1724, 1745, 1746, 1777, 1802, 1805 and 1879 are included under the topic Early Rosecrans History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rosecrans Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Rosenkrantz, Rosenkranz, Rosenkrans, Rosenkrant, Rossenkrantz, Rossenkranz, Rossenkrant, Rossenkrants, Rozenkrantz, Rozenkranz, Rosenkrants, Rozenkrant, Rozenkrants, Rosencrantz, Rosencrants, Rosencranz, Rosencrant, Rosecrans, Rosencrans, Rosecrantz, Rosekranz, Rosekrantz and many more.

Early Notables of the Rosecrans family

Notables of the time included Karl Rosenkranz (1805-1879), who was a prominent German philosopher. Ludvig Rosenkrantz (1628-1685) was a Danish-born noble, military officer, civil servant, and land owner who settled in Norway. He was a member of the noble Rosenkrantz family and the first Baron of Norway. Frederik Christian Rosenkrantz (1724-1802) was a Danish noble, statesman and a wealthy landowner, born in Copenhagen, Denmark. Birgitte Rosenkrantz (died 1603), was a Danish noblewoman, known as a figure of a Cause célèbre. She and her lover were executed by decapitation for incest. She became a figure of folklore and the subject of a...
Another 122 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Rosecrans Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Rosecrans migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rosecrans Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Harmon Hendricks Rosecrans, (Rosencrans), (1634-1697), Dutch-Norwegian settler who arrived in New Netherlands, (New York City), in 1651
Rosecrans Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • H Rosecrans, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1855 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Rosecrans (post 1700) +

  • James Edward Rosecrans (1953-2022), American football linebacker for the New York Jets
  • Sylvester Horton Rosecrans (1827-1878), American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, Bishop of the Diocese of Columbus in Ohio from 1868 until his death in 1878
  • William Starke Rosecrans (1819-1898), American Brigadier General, inventor and coal-oil company executive born in Delaware County, Ohio, Commander of the army of the Mississippi during American Civil War, and afterwards became the U.S. Minister to Mexico
  • Henry Crandall Rosecrans (1824-1904), born in Ohio, he volunteered in 1847 for the war with Mexico, moved to Iowa
  • Dr. Daniel Rosecrans Jr. (1773-1849), born in Pennsylvania, he was sent to Ohio to search lands
  • Crandall Rosecrans (1794-1848), born in Pennsylvania, he moved to Ohio in 1808, he was a veteran of the war of 1812 serving with General William Henry Harrison, father of William, he ran a tavern and store
  • Rosecrans W. Pillsbury, American politician, Candidate in Republican primary for Governor of New Hampshire, 1914; Democratic Candidate for U.S. Representative from New Hampshire 1st District, 1920 2


  1. 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)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 15) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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