Ros History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:

Scotland

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The ancestors of the Ros family come from the ancient Scottish kingdom of Dalriada. Their surname comes 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 Ros family

The surname Ros 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 Ros family

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

Ros Spelling Variations

Medieval spelling was at best an intuitive process, and translation between Gaelic and English was no more effective. These factors caused an enormous number of spelling variations in Dalriadan names. In fact, it was not uncommon to see a father and son who spelled their name differently. Over the years, Ros has been spelled Ros, Roose, Ross, Ruse and others.

Early Notables of the Ros family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was

William, 5th Earl of Ross (died 1372)
Sir Andrew Leslie, though before that event, the Chiefship of the Clan passed to Hugh Ross of Rariches who was the progenitor of the Rosses of Balnagowan
William Ross, 10th Lord Ross of Halkhead (died 1656), a Scottish nobleman

Ros World Ranking

In the United States, the name Ros is the 14,776^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Ros is ranked the 2,702^nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,000 - 2,500 people with that name. 2 And in Netherlands, the name Ros is the 417^th popular surname with an estimated 3,967 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Ros family to Ireland

Some of the Ros 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.

Ros migration to the United States +

Settlers from Scotland put down roots in communities all along the east coast of North America. Some moved north from the American colonies to Canada as United Empire Loyalists during the American War of Independence. As Clan societies and highland games started in North America in the 20th century many Scots rediscovered parts of their heritage. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Ros were among those contributors:

Ros Settlers in United States in the 16th Century

Anton de Ros, who sailed to America in 1526
Juan Ros, who sailed to Peru in 1579

Ros Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Frederig Ros, who landed in New York in 1709 4
Henrich Ros, who arrived in Frederick County, Maryland in 1769 4

Ros Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Francisco Ros, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1816 4
Anton De Ros, who arrived in America in 1826 4
J R Ros, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 4
David Ros, who landed in St Clair County, Illinois in 1860 4
Narciso Ros, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1860 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Ros (post 1700) +

Manuel León Ros, American politician, Honorary Consul for Cuba at Pascagoula, Mississippi, 1909 5
Giuseppe "Bepi" Ros (1942-2022), Italian bronze medalist heavyweight boxer at the 1964 Olympics
Manon Steffan Ros (b. 1983), Welsh novelist, playwright, games author, scriptwriter and musician; she is the author of over twenty children's books and three novels for adults, all in Welsh, her award-winning novel Blasu has been translated (by the author) into English, under the title of The Seasoning
Álvaro Rodríguez Ros (1936-2018), commonly known as Alvarito, was a Spanish football defender and manager
Edmundo William Ros OBE (1910-2011), born Edmund William Ross, Trinidadian musician, vocalist, arranger and bandleader
Arno Ros (b. 1942), German philosopher, Professor of Theoretical Philosophy at the Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg
Ros Drinkwater (b. 1944), Scottish actress, born in Glasgow

The Ros 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