Surname Rosa - Meaning and Origin
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F. Rosa
read moreRosa: What does the surname Rosa mean?
The surname Rosa has several origins and meanings, depending on the cultural context in which it's used. The name is popular in various parts of Europe including Spain, Portugal, Italy, and some Eastern European nations. In Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian, the word 'rosa' means 'rose,' a beautiful and popular flower symbolic of love and passion. Therefore, someone with this last name might have ancestors who worked as rose growers or sellers. Alternatively, Rosa could also be derived from a given name. During the Middle Ages, it was common for a person to be named after a saint, and Saint Rosa of Lima is a well-known figure in Catholic history. Lastly, in some Slavic languages, Rosa means 'dew,' and could have been a nickname representing brightness or freshness. It should be noted that due to geographical or historical reasons, the exact meaning might vary for different individuals.
Order DNA origin analysisRosa: Where does the name Rosa come from?
The last name Rosa is commonly found throughout Latin America and Italy.
In Latin America, the surname is popularly found in countries such as Panama, Bolivia, and Ecuador. This name is especially common in Mexico, where records from 2016 to 2018 reveal that it was among the ten most popular surnames in the country. In Chile, it is the 5th most common name, while in Bolivia it is the 4th.
In Italy, the surname Rosa is particularly common in the southern regions of Campania, Lombardy, and Veneto. Data from the Italian Census from 2011-2016 indicates that Rosa was one of the top 10 most common surnames in the country.
It is likely that the surname originated in Italy before spreading to Latin America. Historians have found records of the Rosa family in some of Italy's oldest cities, such as Genoa, Florence, and Siena.
In terms of global population, the Rosa surname ranks 264th in popularity, with approximately 2.3 million individuals sharing the name. It is found in other countries as well, including Argentina, Spain, the United States, and France.
Variations of the surname Rosa
The surname Rosa is of Latin and Italian origin, originating from the Latin word ‘rosa’ which means rose. The different variants and spellings of Rosa include: Rossa, Ross, Rosso, Rosi, Roso, Rossi, Rosati, Rosy, Rosati, Roz, and Rosera.
In many Spanish-speaking countries, it is also common to have the feminine form of the surname, Rosas. In Portuguese the surname is spelled Rosá, and in Italian Rosà.
The surname Rosa can also be found as a patronymic surname around Italy, where it was derived from a popular Christian first name. As such, there are many surnames derived from Rosa including Rosaroll, Rosario, Rosado, Roselli, Roselli, Rosin, Rosini, Rosso, Rosel, Rosati, Rosello, Rosela, Rosella, Rosemarie, and Rosemar.
Some families with the surname Rosa may also have Italian-Jewish origins. In this case, the surname could be spelled Rosina, Rosen or Rosenthal. Additionally, the surname could also be found in the form of Rosenfeld.
Another form of the surname could also be Rosatti, which has very rare German-Italian origins.
Overall, while the surname Rosa is relatively short and rare, the various variants of the name provide a more extensive family history.
Famous people with the name Rosa
- Rosa Parks: An iconic civil rights activist who is remembered for her refusal to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Alabama which sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955.
- Yasmani Grandal: A professional baseball player who currently plays for the Chicago White Sox.
- Assia Djebar: An acclaimed Algerian writer and filmmaker who was known for her advocacy for the rights of women in her country.
- Caesar R. Rosa: A former Puerto Rican singer-songwriter who was part of the "Nueva ola" and "Jibaro" musical genres.
- Cesária Évora: A singer from the African nation of Cape Verde who was renowned for her performances of mornas, a Portuguese-Creole-style music.
- Luís de Sousa: A Portuguese poet remembered for his works which were heavily inspired by Spanish and Italian authors of the same period.
- Queen Elizabeth II: The Queen of the United Kingdom since 1952 who is related to every other royal family in the world.
- Francisco de Goya: A renowned Spanish painter known for his artwork during the late 18th and 19th centuries which often depicted scenes of war and violence.
- María Rosa Duarte de Reynoso: An Argentine feminist and political activist who worked closely with revolutionary Juan Perón.
- Hoda Kotb: A broadcaster who currently serves as anchor of the NBC’s show Today.