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

The Roos 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 Roos family

The surname Roos 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 Roos family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Roos 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 Roos History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Roos 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 Roos 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; Francis Rous (1579-1659), English hymnist, fourth son of Sir Anthony Rous of Halton St. Dominick, Cornwall; John Rous (c 1618-1680), an English politician, Member of...
Another 80 words (6 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. 11 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. 12 And in Netherlands, the name Roos is the 94^th popular surname with an estimated 10,635 people with that name. 13 South Africa ranks Roos as 499^th with 14,434 people. 14

Roos 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 Roos or a variant listed above:

Roos Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Cornelia Roos, aged 4, who arrived in New York in 1659 15

Roos Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Kristoffel Roos, who landed in New York in 1709 15
Andreas Roos, who landed in New York, NY in 1710-1714 15
Gerret Roos, who landed in New York in 1715 15
Francis Roos, who arrived in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania in 1741 15
Caspar Roos, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1752 15
... (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 15
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 15
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" 15
... (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 16

Contemporary Notables of the name Roos (post 1700) +

Michael Y. Roos, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1988 17
Lawrence K. Roos, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Missouri, 1956, 1972 17
John V. Roos, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 2008 17
Frederick B. Roos, American Republican politician, Member of Illinois State Senate 7th District; Elected 1922 17
Elbert S. Roos, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1892 17
Caroline Kreisel Roos, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Ohio, 2008 17
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 18
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) 19

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: 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/
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