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Rosser History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Rosser History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Wales

The Welsh name Rosser is a patronymic surname created from the Welsh personal name Rosser, which also took the form Rhosier. The surname Rosser was originally ap-Rosser or ap-Rhosier: the distinctive Welsh patronymic prefix "ab" or "ap," means "son of," but the prefix has been assimilated into the surname over the course of time. There has also been suggestion that the name is a Welsh transformation of the Gaelic name "Mac Ruaidhri."

Early Origins of the Rosser family

The surname Rosser was first found in Herefordshire, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects. The form Rosser was found in Chancery, where a Morres Rosser was recorded in Wales in 1100, in the "Calendar of Proceedings in Chancery" published during the reign of Elizabeth I in the 16th century.

Early History of the Rosser family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rosser research. Another 106 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1200 and 1237 are included under the topic Early Rosser History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rosser Spelling Variations

Although there are not an extremely large number Welsh surnames, there are an inordinately large number of spelling variations of those surnames. This variety of spellings began almost immediately after the acceptance of surnames within Welsh society. As time progressed, these old Brythonic names were eventually were recorded in English. This process was problematic in that many of the highly inflected sounds of the native language of Wales could not be properly captured in English. Some families, however, did decide to modify their own names to indicate a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even a patriotic affiliation. The name Rosser has seen various spelling variations: Prosser, Prousser, Proser, Prouser, Prossar, Rosser, Roser, Rossear and many more.

Early Notables of the Rosser family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was

Prosser of Belmont

Rosser Ranking

In the United States, the name Rosser is the 3,910^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1

Rosser migration to the United States +

The Welsh migration to North America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries contributed greatly to its rapid development. These migrants were in search of land, work, and freedom. Those Welsh families that survived the long ocean journey were critical to the development of new industries and factories, and to the quick settlement of land. They also added to an ever-growing rich cultural heritage. A search of the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Rosser:

Rosser Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Elizabeth Rosser, who arrived in Virginia in 1643
Eliz Rosser, who arrived in Virginia in 1654 2
Mary Rosser, who arrived in Virginia in 1658 2
Thomas Rosser, who arrived in Virginia in 1660 2
Hugh Rosser, who landed in Maryland in 1665 2

Rosser Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Samuel Rosser, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1747 2

Rosser Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Pedro Rosser, aged 50, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1829 2
Richard Rosser, who arrived in St Clair County, III in 1862 2
Miss Kath. Rosser, aged 22, German settler who arrived in New York in 1893 aboard the ship "Westernland" 3

Rosser migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Rosser Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Rosser, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Aden" in 1849 4
J. Rosser, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Childe Harold" in 1849 5

Rosser migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Rosser Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Thomas Rosser, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Annie Wilson" in 1863
Frederick E. Rosser, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of Beauty" in 1863
Mr. Charles Rosser, (b. 1863), aged Infant, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Brothers Pride" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 8th December 1863 6
Mr. John Rosser, (b. 1841), aged 22, British farm labourer travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Brothers Pride" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 8th December 1863 6
Mrs. Sophia Rosser, (b. 1841), aged 22, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Brothers Pride" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 8th December 1863 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Rosser (post 1700) +

Ronald Eugene Rosser (1929-2020), United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor, for his actions in the Korean War
Dois Irvin "D.I." Rosser Jr. (1921-2019), American businessman best known for founding the POMOCO Auto Group
Yvette Rosser (b. 1952), American author and scholar
John Barkley Rosser (1907-1989), American mathematician
J. Allyn Rosser (b. 1957), American poet
Thomas Lafayette "Tex" Rosser (1836-1910), American Confederate General
John B. Rosser, American politician, Member of New Jersey State House of Assembly from Hudson County, 1921 7
James Ralph Rosser, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Georgia State House of Representatives from Walker County, 1926, 1929-32; Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Georgia, 1928 7
J. C. Rosser, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Ohio 4th District, 1906 7
Everett A. Rosser, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1940, 1956 7
... (Another 9 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Rosser family +

Senghenydd colliery

Mr. James John Rosser (b. 1891), Welsh coal miner from Senghenydd, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Germans to America retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from Glazier, Ira. A., and Filby, P. William. Germans to America: Lists of Passengers Arriving at U.S. Ports. Vol. 62, Scholarly Resources Inc, 2230
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Aden from London via Plymouth Adealide Arriving September 12th 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849AdenRegister.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CHILDE HAROLD 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849ChildeHarold.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, March 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html