Show ContentsRoskelyn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Roskelyn family

The surname Roskelyn was first found in Lincolnshire where the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Rigsby, Rocelin, a Norman noble who held from the Archbishop of York who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. Rocelin was descended from Robertus the first settler granted the lands in 1066 by Duke William.

Robertus filius Rozelin, Rotselini is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. 1 As a forename, Rocelin de Riggesbi was mentioned c. 1150 in Lincolnshire. Later, Thomas Roscelin was found in the Assize Rolls for Gloucestershire in 1221 and later again, John Russelyn was listed in Yorkshire in 1316. In Cambridgeshire, Amycis Roslyn was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327. 2

They are thought to be a "branch of the Carlovingian Viscounts of Maine and Beaumont. Roscelin the thin man (Homo Magri) is mentioned in the Norman Exchequer Rolls of 1198. The probable ancestor of the family in England was Rocel filius Osbert, who held five knights' fees of the barony of Hubert de Rie in 1165. William de Roscelyn, with whom the recorded pedigree commences, married the heiress of a Norman family that had held a considerable property in Norfolk from the time of the Conquest, and had taken the name of Edgefield or Edisfield from one of their manors. Sir Thomas, the next heir, in 1265 had free warren in all his demesne lands at Edisfield, Walcote, Norton, Heckingham, Drayton, Tasburgh, and Redlington, in Norfolk; and his son Sir Peter was summoned to parliament among the barons of the realm in 1293." 3

Early History of the Roskelyn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Roskelyn research. Another 170 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1109, 1200, 1214, 1273 and 1291 are included under the topic Early Roskelyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Roskelyn Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Rosselin, Roseland, Rosling, Rosslyn, Rusling, Rosling, Roslyn, Roslin, Roskelyn, Rossland, Rosslynd, Roselyn and many more.

Early Notables of the Roskelyn family

More information is included under the topic Early Roskelyn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Roskelyn family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..



  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3


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