Show ContentsRogge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Rogge name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in Cumberland and Lancashire. This local name was derived from the local at the ridge or near a ridge. There are a variety of types of local surnames, some of which include: topographic surnames, which could be given to a person who lived beside any physical feature, such as a hill, stream, church or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties. The surname Rogge comes from the Old English word rigge, or the Old English word hrycg, both of which mean ridge. [1] [2]

Early Origins of the Rogge family

The surname Rogge was first found in Shropshire where William de Rigge was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1197-1198. Later and further to the north, John del Rigg was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for 1332 in Cumberland. [3]

Early History of the Rogge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rogge research. Another 148 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1410, 1567, 1591, 1601, 1602, 1612, 1613, 1635 and 1705 are included under the topic Early Rogge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rogge Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Rogge were recorded, including Rigge, Rigg, Riggs and others.

Early Notables of the Rogge family

Distinguished members of the family include Robert Rigge, Rygge or Rugge (died 1410), English Chancellor of the University of Oxford, a native of Devonshire, and possibly a relative of Thomas de Bitton, bishop of Exeter. [4]Ambrose Rigg or Rigge (1635-1705), was an English Quaker, born at Brampton in Westmorland. He and his companion Thomas Robertson went to Rochester...
Another 58 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Rogge Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rogge Ranking

In the United States, the name Rogge is the 10,992nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [5]

Ireland Migration of the Rogge family to Ireland

Some of the Rogge family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Rogge migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Rogge family emigrate to North America:

Rogge Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Hans Rogge, who landed in New York in 1709 [6]
Rogge Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Henry Hermann Adolph Rogge, who arrived in New York in 1836 [6]
  • Gottfried Rogge, who arrived in Iowa in 1849 [6]
  • Eberh Fr W Rogge, who landed in America in 1850 [6]
  • John Henrick Rogge, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1851 [6]
  • Christian Rogge, who arrived in America in 1852 [6]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Rogge Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Robert Rogge, who arrived in Alabama in 1922 [6]

Contemporary Notables of the name Rogge (post 1700) +

  • Naomi Kathryn Rogge (b. 1999), American ice hockey forward, currently playing in the Swedish Women's Hockey League
  • George Ross Rogge (1907-1997), American football player
  • Florence Rogge (1904-1992), American dancer and choreographer, and artistic director of the Corps de Ballet at Radio City Music Hall from 1932 to 1952
  • Bette Rogge (1922-2015), (married name Bette Morse) was an American radio and television host
  • Benjamin A. Rogge (1920-1980), American economist, college administrator, and libertarian writer, speaker and foundation advisor
  • Bernhard Rogge (1899-1982), German naval officer who, during World War II, commanded a merchant raider
  • Tim Rogge (b. 1977), Belgian retired middle-distance runner who competed at the 1997 World Championships
  • Kort Rogge (1425-1501), also known as Rogge Kyle, Konrad Rogge, Cort Rogge, Conradus Roggo gothus and Conradus Roggo de Holmis, was a Swedish bishop, member of the Privy Council of Sweden, and humanist
  • Klaus Rogge (b. 1979), German rower, born in Buchen
  • Jacques Jean Marie Rogge (1942-2021), Count Rogge was a Belgian sports administrator and physician who served as the eighth President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 2001 to 2013
  • ... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Rogge 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: Dum vivo cano
Motto Translation: While alive celebrate.


  1. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. 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)


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