Contents [hide]

Rouse History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Rouse History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Scotland

The Rouse surname, of Norman ancestry, was a name given to a person with red hair which was in turn derived from the Old French nickname le rous, meaning redhead. Another equally valid derivation suggests that the name is a shortened form of the Norman given name Rufus. 1 2 3

Early Origins of the Rouse family

The surname Rouse was first found in Devon. The first on record was Radulphus le Rufus, a knight in the train of William the Conqueror who became one of the Justices Itinerant of the counties of Wiltshire, Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall temp. Henry II. It is from this eminent person that the family of Edmerston and Halton, co. Devon descend. 4

"Rouse or Rowse is the name of an ancient Cornish family of Halton. Antony Rouse or Rowse, of Halton, was High Sheriff in the reign of Elizabeth. " 5

"The manor of Helston, which was always considered as belonging to the dutchy, was alienated during the usurpation of Cromwell, when it was sold to Anthony Rowse; but on the restoration of the Stuarts, it returned again into its original channel. This manor was sold in the year 1798, under the Land-tax redemption act, to John Rogers, Esq. of Penrose, who is the present proprietor." 6

Some of the family were also found at early time further north at Mearly in Lancashire. "The chief part of the township was granted by Jordan le Rous to Stephen, afterwards called de Merley, whose daughter married Adam de Nowell, and carried the Hall and manor into that family, 38th of Edward III." 7

And still farther north, Rousay and Eagleshay is a parish, in the North Isles of the county of Orkney, Scotland. 8

By the time of the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, the popularity of the name was evident. That rolls included: Alexander le Rous, Cambridgeshire; Juliana la Rouse, Oxfordshire; Alicia Rouze, Cambridgeshire; John le Rus, Lincolnshire; Gilbert Russ, Lincolnshire; and Lucia la Russe, Oxfordshire. 9

Once more into the archives we delved to find the Assize Rolls for Lancashire listing Wilekin Rous in 1225; John Russe in Wiltshire in 1218; Symon le Rus in the Feet of Fines for Huntingdonshire in 1253; and Margareta le Ruse in Staffordshire in 1285. 10

Early History of the Rouse family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rouse research. Another 290 words (21 lines of text) covering the years 1411, 1491, 1574, 1579, 1600, 1605, 1608, 1618, 1626, 1645, 1650, 1652, 1653, 1654, 1656, 1659, 1660, 1670, 1676, 1677, 1680, 1730, 1731 and 1776 are included under the topic Early Rouse History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rouse Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Rous, Rouse, Rowse and others.

Early Notables of the Rouse family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

John Rous or Ross (c. 1411-1491), the English antiquary of Warwick, born at Warwick about 1411, was son of Geoffrey Rous, a descendant of the Rowses or Rouses of Brinkelow, Warwickshire
John Russe or Rouse (1574-1652), Bodley's librarian, born in Northamptonshire, Fellow of Oriel College in 1600
Sir Roger Rouse of Gloucestershire
Sir John Rouse (died 1645), an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1626

Rouse Ranking

In the United States, the name Rouse is the 1,002^nd most popular surname with an estimated 29,844 people with that name. 11 However, in New Zealand, the name Rouse is ranked the 990^th most popular surname with an estimated 760 people with that name. 12

Rouse migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Rouse or a variant listed above:

Rouse Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Rouse, who settled in Virginia in 1638
Faithful Rouse, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1644 13
Walter Rouse, who landed in Virginia in 1652 13
William Rouse, who arrived in Virginia in 1653 13
James Rouse, who arrived in Virginia in 1653 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rouse Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Margaret Rouse, who arrived in Virginia in 1706 13
Henry Rouse, who landed in Virginia in 1716 13
Jacob Rouse, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 13
Clara Rouse, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 13
Edward Rouse, who landed in Virginia in 1735 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rouse Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Philip Rouse, who landed in New York in 1831 13

Rouse migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rouse Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Joseph Rouse, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Mr. David Rouse U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 14
Mr. George Rouse U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 14

Rouse migration to Australia +

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

Rouse Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Edward Rouse, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Ann" on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia 15
Charles Rouse, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Platina" in 1839 16
Mr. George Rouse, English convict who was convicted in Lincolnshire (Kesteven), England for life, transported aboard the "Duncan" on 10th December 1840, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 17
Mr. Michael Rouse, (b. 1821), aged 23, Irish farm labourer who was convicted in Sligo, Ireland for 7 years for assault, transported aboard the "Cadet" on 9th April 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1847 18
Miss Catherine Rouse, English convict who was convicted in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth and Henry" on 14th September 1846, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 19
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rouse migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Rouse Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Rev. William Rouse, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Kingston" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 29th December 1858 20
Mr. John Rouse, (b. 1824), aged 33, British labourer travelling from London aboard the ship "Roehampton" arriving in Lyttlelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 7th March 1858 21
Mrs. Ann Rouse, (b. 1828), aged 29, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Roehampton" arriving in Lyttlelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 7th March 1858 21
Ms. Rouse, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Bahia" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 7th December 1863 20
Miss Eliza Rouse, (b. 1843), aged 22, British miliner travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 1st January 1866 20
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rouse migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 22

Rouse Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century

Peter Rouse, who arrived in Jamaica in 1749 13

Contemporary Notables of the name Rouse (post 1700) +

James Wilson Rouse (1914-1996), American activist and philanthropist and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Cecilia Elena Rouse (b. 1963), American economist and dean of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers Nominee
Curtis Lamar Rouse (1960-2013), American NFL football player
Jeffrey Norman "Jeff" Rouse (b. 1970), American Olympic Gold Medalist and former World Record swimmer
Russell Rouse (1913-1987), Academy Award-winning American screenwriter, director, and producer
Mikel Rouse (b. 1957), American composer
Josh Rouse (b. 1972), American singer-songwriter
Irving Rouse, American anthropologist
Christopher Russell Rouse (b. 1958), Academy Award-winning American film editor
Christopher Rouse (b. 1949), American composer
... (Another 32 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Rouse family +

HMS Royal Oak

Peter Rouse (1923-1939), British Boy 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 23

Prince of Wales colliery

Mr. John Rouse (b. 1836), Welsh coal miner who was working at the Prince of Wales Colliery in Abercarn, Wales on the 11th September 1878 when there was a coal mine explosion; he died 24

RMS Titanic

Mr. Richard Henry Rouse (d. 1912), aged 50, English Third Class passenger from Sittingbourne, Kent who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 25

The Rouse 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: Vescitur Christo
Motto Translation: He feeds on Christ.

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PLATINA 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Platina.htm
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duncan
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cadet/
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth-and-henry
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
Entombed in flood and flame (retrieved 3rd August 2021). Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20120603025705/http://www.crosskeys.me.uk/history/prince.htm
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html