Surname Rosse - Meaning and Origin

Rosse: What does the surname Rosse mean?

The surname Rosse is of Anglo-Norman origin deriving from the Old French "rous" which means "red". It was originally a nickname given to a person with red hair or a ruddy complexion. The surname may also be traced back to the Gaelic name "de Rosa". In English, the name may also refer to a person who resided in an area abundant with roses. The use of surnames began in the Middle Ages as a means of distinguishing people with similar first names and has since become a key aspect of personal identity. Therefore, the last name Rosse denotes characteristics of appearance, locale, or personal traits, prevalent at the time surnames were assigned. The exact origin of the name could differ based on regional usage and dialects of Old French and Gaelic, with roots in England, France, and Ireland. The name’s variations include Ross, Rosser, and Rosserman among others. Notable people with the surname include Sir George Gabriel Stokes, 1st Baronet, known as Sir William Thomson's successor in the Lucasian Chair at Cambridge University, who assumed the surname Rosse in addition to his own.

Rosse: Where does the name Rosse come from?

The last name Rosse is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Germany. In the UK, it is particularly widespread in the counties of North Yorkshire, Lancashire, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Kent. In Ireland, the surname is mainly found in the county of Munster.

In the United States, the surname is relatively uncommon but is most commonly found in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. It can also be found in other states, such as Massachusetts, Virginia, and Delaware. Further afield, the surname Rosse is also found in various parts of Europe, with particular concentrations in Germany, France, and Spain.

Remarkably, the surname spread to some of the furthest corners of the world with emigrants carrying it to places like Australia, Canada, and even Brazil. In Australia, the name can be found mainly in the states of Victoria, New South Wales, and Western Australia.

Given that the surname's spread stretches over a large portion of the world, there is no one country that can unambiguously be termed as the "home" of the Rosse name. Consequently, records from various regions must be consulted to ascertain the prevalence of the surname today.

Variations of the surname Rosse

The surname Rosse is an English and French patronymic name derived from the personal name Rose, which in turn was derived from the Latin rosa or Old French roese, both meaning "rose." Variants of Rosse include Ros, Rose, Ross, de Ross, de Roess, Ross, Rossez, Rosso and Russo.

In France, the surname Rosse usually appears as de Rosse or Rosso. The French variant derives from the Old French rosee, likely meaning rose-colored, and may have been assumed as a nickname due to a ruddy complexion. The de survives in the form of de Rosse or de Rosso, in both cases being a toponymic referring to a person who resided near a rose-bush.

In England, variants include Ross, Rose and Rosses. Ross is an anglicization of the original name, while Rose is derived from the personal name Rose. Rosses is a patronymic form of the personal name Ross, meaning "son of Ross."

In Ireland, variants of the Irish Rosse surname include Ross, Rosse and Roach. The Irish variant is derived from the Gaelic O'Roighis (Ó Ruisigh), meaning "descendant of Roisigh," with Roisigh derived from the personal name Ruisigh, meaning renowned lord.

Famous people with the name Rosse

• Charlotte Rose: American model, philanthropist, and founder of the foundation No Ifs, Ands, or Butts
• Ted Ross: American actor best known for his role as the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz
• Paul Rose: Canadian environmental activist and leader of the Turtle Island Conservation Society
• Joanna Rosse: Australian Olympic rhythmic gymnast who competed for Australia in the Sydney 2000 Olympics
• Jean Rosse: French-Canadian actor, singer, and author
• Robert Rosse: Canadian-born actor, known for his roles in Sleepy Hollow and House of the Dead
• Gilbert Rosse: French naturalist, explorer, and writer
• Mary Rosse: British noblewoman, known as the Countess of Rosse, and noted for being one of the first women to preside over a jury
• Patrick Rosse: Canadian-American professor and religious scholar
• Abraham Rosse: American lawyer, politician, and Founding Father of the United States

Other surnames

RossRossaRossackRossasRossbachRossbacherRossbergRossbergerRossdeutscherRosseelRosselRösselRossellRosselotRosserRossetRosseterRossethRossettRossettiRossettoRossewigRosshartRosshirtRossiRossierRossigerRossignolRossingRössing