Ross

Meanings

1. An English and Scottish habitational surname from Scottish Gaelic derived from any of several places of that name, from Scottish Gaelic ros (“headland”).
2. A male given name transferred from the surname, of early 19th century and later usage.
3. A number of places in the United States:
4. An unincorporated community in Pope County, Arkansas.
5. A town in Marin County, California.
6. An unincorporated community in Calumet Township, Lake County, Indiana.
7. An unincorporated community in Audubon County, Iowa.
8. An unincorporated community in Dieter Township, Roseau County, Minnesota.
9. A minor city in Mountrail County, North Dakota.
10. A township and census-designated place therein, in Butler County, Ohio.
11. A minor city in McLennan County, Texas.
12. A town in Forest County, Wisconsin.

1. The rough, scaly surface on the bark of trees.

1. To divest of the ross, or rough, scaly surface.

1. A swamp.

Etymology

* As a Scottish surname, from several places such as Roose in Cumbria or Roos in Yorkshire, both from Scottish Gaelic ros (“promontory”) or a Brythonic parallel of its source such as Welsh rhos (“moor, heath”). There were also several Norman families in Scotland who took their name from Rots in Calvados. Compare Rose, Rhodes. * As an English surname, from Wrose in Shipley, with loss of initial w. * As an English and German surname, from derivatives of the old Germanic root common in names *hrōþi (“fame”). Compare Rossell. * As a Cornish surname, from several places in Cornwall deriving from ros (“heathland”), related to the above Celtic word meaning "heath" or "promontory." See Rouse. * As a Jewish and German occupational surname for a breeder of horses, from the regional/poetic noun Ross (“horse”). Doublet of horse. * Also as a Jewish surname, Americanized from Rose.