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There are approximately 70,750 people named Ross in the UK. That makes it the 106th most common surname overall. Out of every million people in the UK, approximately 1,120 are named Ross.

Region of origin

British Isles

Country of origin

Scotland

Language of origin

Gaelic

Religion of origin

Christian

Classification

Celtic
From given name or forename

Related and similar surnames

Rosse
Rose
Roose
Roo
Rosa
Roces
Rosas
Rosca
Rosch
Rosco
Rohss
Roass
Roasse
Ros's
Rhoss
Rosc
Rohsz
Rohse
Roase
Rohses
Rohsi
Rosae
Rosai
Rosce
Rosci
Roce
Roasa
Rosaa
Roasseau
Rohsa

The Ross surname in historical dictionaries

An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857)

(origin: Gaelic. Local) A shire of Scotland. Ros, a peninsula, an isthmus, a promontory. Rhos, in Welsh, is a moor, a bog. Ros, in Cor. Br., is a mountain, a meadow, a common. Rose and Rosh signify a valley or dale between hills.

Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.

Patronymica Britannica (1860)

ROSS. This surname is susceptible of several explanations. 1. In some cases it is undoubtedly of foreign local origin. In Domesday we 'find, in Kent, a tenant called Anschitil deRos, and, in Buckinghamshire, another named Ansgotus de Ros. These probably came from Ros, a commune in the arrondissement of Caen, in Normandy. 2. It is of British local origin. The great barons Ros, or Roos, of Hamlake, co.York, sprang from one Peter, who, in the reign of Henry I., assumed his surname from his lordship of Ros, in Holderness. Bai'onage. The Rosses of the South of Scotland appear to have sprung from the English family, and to have passed into Renfrewshire, as the Aassals of Richard de Moreville in the XII. century, settling at Halkhead, co. Renfrev, and at Dalton, co. Dumfries. 3 There are several towns and villages in North and South Britain called Ross, and these, as well as ross, a heath or morass, and ross, a promontory, may have a claim. 4. The name seems sometimes to have had reference to the colour or complexion of the first bearer, and to have been a modification of Le Rous, Rufus, or the Red. The ancient family of Ross of Renfrew, descending from Alysandre, who flourished at Renfrew, so early as the reign of King David I., wrote themselves the Ross of Renfrew," apparently down to the XV. century. See Knowles's Genealogy of Coulthart, p. 16. 6. Mr. Ferguson claims the name as Teutonic, deriving it from O. Sax., hros, 0. Norse, hross, &c., a horse. 6. Mr. Skene insinuates a claim on behalf of the Gaelic. " It is AvcU known," says he, "that the surname of Ross has always been rendered in Gaelic, Clan Avrias, or Clan Gillc Avrias." Scottish Highlanders, ii. 224.

Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.

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