Rossear History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Wales
Ireland
Scotland

The name Rossear comes from a name for a fame-spear or one who was a skilled soldier. The surname Rossear was originally a Germanic personal name derived from the elements hrod, or "renown" combined with geri, or "spear;" thus the name suggested "prowess with a spear." 1 The surname Rossear may have derived from the Old French word Rogier. After the Norman Conquest, the Old English naming system gradually dissolved. Old English names became less common and were replaced by popular continental European names. The earliest surnames in England were found shortly after the Norman Conquest and are of Norman French rather than native English origins.

Early Origins of the Rossear family

The surname Rossear was first found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 as Adam filius Rogeri in Lincolnshire; and Robert filius Rogeri in Norfolk. 2 Kirby's Quest of Somerset listed Waltero Rogero in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of Edward III's reign.) 3

Over 100 years later, the name had evolved from the early Latin versions that held either the vowel "i" or "o" to the more recent spellings we understand today. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Willelmus Rogerson and as a personal name Rogerus Smyth. 2

The name was "rare or absent in England north of a line drawn from the Humber to the Mersey. Scattered over the rest of England and also Wales, but generally infrequent in the eastern counties, being by far the most numerous in the western half of its area. It is most common in Herefordshire and Shropshire, and also in Cornwall." 4 This author continues "Rodger is the Scotch form, it has no definite distribution. In England we only find it occasionally, as in the case of Rodgers in Derbyshire." 4

From this vantage, we explored the aforementioned "Scotch" (Scottish) origin further. In this case, many of the records were recorded in the Anglo or English version rather than the previous entries that had the Latin form. "Roger was appointed abbot of Dryburgh in 1152. Roger, son of Oggou, attested a deed of middle of thirteenth century. William Roger was tenant of the abbot of Coupar-Angus in 1468." 1 Black continues "Rodgers is the more common form with Scots. Rogers, in some parts of central Scotland, is pronounced Rodgie, and some Gaelic-speaking people in Perthshire pronounce it Rougie and sometimes Royger. John Rodgers, born in Maryland, 1771, son of a Scots colonel of militia, fired with his own hand the first shot in the war with Great Britain in 1812." 1

"The family of Rogers of Home, in Shropshire, are a cadet of the Norburys of Norbury in that county. In 7. Edward II., [(seventh year of Edward II's reign)] Roger de Norbury, son of Philip, and grandson of Roger de Norbury, had a grant of the estate of Home. His son took the name of Rogers, and his posterity under that appellation have ever since resided at Home. " 5

Roger of Salisbury (died 1139), "also called Roger the Great, bishop of Salisbury and justiciar, was of humble origin, and originally priest of a little chapel near Caen. The future king, Henry I, chanced, while riding out from Caen, to turn aside to this chapel to hear mass. Roger, guessing the temper of his audience, went through the service with such speed that they declared him the very man for a soldier's chaplain, and Henry took him into his service." 6

Early History of the Rossear family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rossear research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1550, 1583, 1598, 1602, 1618, 1620, 1621, 1630, 1636, 1655, 1658, 1679, 1682, 1684, 1690, 1718, 1732 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Rossear History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rossear Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Rossear include Rogers, Roger, Rodger, Rodgers and others.

Early Notables of the Rossear family

Distinguished members of the family include Richard Rogers (c.1550-1618), an English clergyman, a nonconformist under both Elizabeth I and James I; Henry Rogers (1583-1658), an English Anglican priest and writer, attended Jesus College, Oxford (1602) at the age of eighteen; Nathaniel Rogers (1598-1655), an English clergyman and early New England pastor; John Rogers (1630-1684), an English academic from Coggeshall, Essex who emigrated to America...
Another 64 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Rossear Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Rossear family to Ireland

Some of the Rossear family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Rossear family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Rossear or a variant listed above: Nathaniel Rogers who settled in Boston in 1636 from the Devonshire branch; James Rogers settled in New London Conn. in 1635 from the Cornwall branch; Alexander, Andrew, Daniel, Francis, George, Hugh, James, John, Mary, Michael, Patrick, Peter, Robert, Thomas and William Rodgers all arrived in Philadelphia between 1820 and 1870.

The Rossear 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: Nos Nostraque Deo
Motto Translation: We and ours to God.

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print