Ross History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland/England
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Ross

What does the name Ross mean?

The name Ross is rooted in the ancient Norman culture that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. It was a name for someone who was a person who had the given name Andrew, which is derived from Anrias. The name may also be a nickname derived from the Old English word rouse, which means red or red-haired. 1

Early Origins of the Ross family

The surname Ross was first found in Yorkshire, although there seems to be two distinct origins of this surname. This history discusses in detail the English/Scottish borders origin of the name. For this origin, the first reference of the name was Godfrey de Ross, a vassal of the de Morevilles, obtaining from Richard de Moreville the lands of Stewarton in Cuningham. 2

This family of Ros or Ross came from Yorkshire. James de Ros, Reginald de Ross and Peter de Ross appear about the same time also as vassals of Richard de Moreville. These people are also listed as witnesses in his charters. The aforementioned Godfrey de Ross witnessed de Moreville's charter of Gillemoristun with Edulfus filius Utredi c. 1189. A few years later in 1205, Sir Godfrey de Rose, Arthur de Ross and Fergus de Rosse witnessed an agreement between the burgesses of Irvine and Brice of Eglunstone.

Robert de Ros or Rosse (d. 1227), "baron, was the son of Everard de Ros of Helmsley or Hamlake in the North Riding of Yorkshire. The family also held lands in Holderness, where was situated Ros, to which they gave, or from which they received, their name. Robert succeeded to his father's lands in 1191, paying a relief of one thousand marks. In 1195 he was bailiff and castellan of Bonneville-sur-Touques in Lower Normandy, near which the Norman lands of the family lay." 3

"The manor [at Roos, Yorkshire] was from the reign of Henry I. the seat and property of the noble family of Roos, one of whose barons had the glory of leading the second division of the English army at the battle of Cressy. The site is still visible of the castle of the former barons; and in part of the old moat have been lately found a misericorde dagger and some amber beads. The place confers the original title on the present family of De Ros." 4

Early History of the Ross family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ross research. Another 170 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1363, 1370, 1372, 1390, 1394, 1396, 1403, 1404, 1413, 1414, 1455, 1508 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Ross History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ross Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Ros, Roose, Ross, Ruse and others.

Early Notables of the Ross family

The 5th Earl of Ross, William, who died in 1372

Ross World Ranking

In the United Kingdom, the name Ross is the 106^th most popular surname with an estimated 44,509 people with that name. 5 However, in Australia, the name Ross is ranked the 64^th most popular surname with an estimated 35,042 people with that name. 6 And in New Zealand, the name Ross is the 68^th popular surname with an estimated 4,908 people with that name. 7 Canada ranks Ross as 38^th with 43,175 people. 8 Quebec, Canada ranks Ross as 309^th. 9 The United States ranks Ross as 80^th with 238,752 people. 10 South Africa ranks Ross as 708^th with 9,639 people. 11

Migration of the Ross family to Ireland

Some of the Ross 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.

Ross migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the Second Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Second Fleet

Mr. Cockaton "William" Ross, British settler convicted in Cambridgeshire, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Matilda" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 12

Third Fleet

Mr. Alexander Ross, British quartermaster on the Navy support ship for the First Fleet the "HMS Sirius" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788
Mr. Peter Ross, British gunner on the Navy support ship for the First Fleet the "HMS Sirius" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788

Following the Second and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Ross Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Ross, (b. 1785), aged 22, English weaver who was convicted in Shropshire, England for life for highway robbery, transported aboard the "Duke of Portland" in January 1807, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1834 13
Mr. James Ross, Scottish labourer who was convicted in Aberdeen, Scotland for life, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
Miss Ann Ross, (1790 - 1827), aged 27, British settler who was convicted in Lancaster, England for 7 years for stealing handkerchiefs, transported aboard the "Friendship" on 1st May 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Mr. John Ross, British Convict who was convicted in Inverness, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Batavia" in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
Mr.Thomas Ross, (b. 1798), aged 21, Irish shoe maker who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Bencoolen" on 24th April 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia before being transferred to Tasmania via the "Admiral Cockburn" 17
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ross 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:

Ross Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

George Ross, aged 21, a blacksmith, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blenheim" in 1840
Robert Ross, aged 23, a baker, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Arab" in 1841
Mary Ross, aged 21, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Arab" in 1841
James Ross, aged 37, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Phoebe Dunbar" between 1841 and 1850
Catherine Ross, aged 36, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Phoebe Dunbar" between 1841 and 1850
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ross migration to Canada +

Ross Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Janet Ross, who arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1773
Donald Ross, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1773
Christina Ross, who arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1773
Catherine Ross, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1773
Mr. Donald Ross U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1776 he served in the Royal Regiment of New York 18
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ross Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Alexander Ross, aged 35, Scottish blacksmith who arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1815-1816 with his wife and 5 children
Donald Ross, aged 22, Scottish labourer, who arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1815-1816
Finlay Ross, aged 50, Scottish shoe maker who arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1815-1816 with his wife and 7 children
William Ross, aged 30, Scottish labourer who landed in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1815-1816 with his wife and 3 children 19
James Ross, aged 51, Scottish labourer who landed in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1815-1816 with his wife and 9 children 19
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ross migration to the United States +

Ross Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Daniel Ross, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1651 19
Alester Ross, who landed in America in 1652 19

Ross Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Andreas Ross, who landed in New York in 1710 19
Charles Ross, who arrived in South Carolina in 1716 19
Christopher Ross, aged 55, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1738 19
Jean Ross, who landed in New York, NY in 1738 19
Anneal Ross, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1740-1741 19
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ross Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Casper Ross, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1802 19
Gerret Ross, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1802 19
Anna Ross, aged 50, who arrived in New York in 1807 19
John Ross, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1810 19
Eleanor Ross, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811 19
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Ross (post 1700) +

Diana Ross (b. 1944), American singer, songwriter, and actress, founding member and lead singer of the vocal group The Supremes, inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Jaan Ross (1957-2026), Estonian musicologist and psychologist, member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, recipient of the Order of the White Star (2001)
Ian Ross (1968-2025), Canadian Ojibwe playwright
Jesús Martínez Ross (1934-2025), Mexican politician belonging to the Partido Revolucionario Institucional, held a seat in the Chamber of Deputies (1973-1975), served as the first elected governor of Quintana Roo following statehood (1975-1981)
John Robert "Haj" Ross (1938-2025), American poet and linguist, professor of linguistics at MIT from 1966 to 1985
Dorothy Ross (1936-2024), American historian, Arthur O. Lovejoy Professor of History at Johns Hopkins University, known for her books G. Stanley Hall: The Psychologist as Prophet (1972) and The Origins of American Social Science (1991), eponym of the Dorothy Ross Prize
Arthur "Art" Ross (1886-1964), Canadian ice hockey player and General Manager of the Boston Bruins, 1924–1953, inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, 1949
Douglas George "Doug" Ross (1951-2022), American college ice hockey player, 1976 USA Olympic hockey player and former college ice hockey head coach
Donald Kemp Ross (1943-2022), American public interest lawyer who proposed the model of Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGS) with Ralph Nader
... (Another 38 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Ross family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. William Ross (d. 1914), British Greaser from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 20
Mr. Thomas Ross (1889-1914), American Third Class Passenger from Detroit, Michigan, United States who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 21
Miss Eileen Ross (1910-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 21
Master Clifford Ross (1917-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 22
Master Freddie Ross (1912-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 22
... (Another 32 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Ross 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

Sources +

Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
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)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duke-of-portland
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/batavia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bencoolen
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
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)
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance