NameCensus.

UK surname

Roos

A Dutch and German toponymic surname indicating someone who lived near a rose garden or in a place called Roos.

In the 1881 census there were 95 people recorded with the Roos surname, ranking it #20,349 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 272, ranked #15,832, up from #20,349 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Brancepeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, Elmbridge and Hackney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Roos is 272 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 186.3%.

1881 census count

95

Ranked #20,349

Modern count

272

2016, ranked #15,832

Peak year

2016

272 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Roos had 95 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,349 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 272 in 2016, ranked #15,832.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 162 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Roos surname distribution map

The map shows where the Roos surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Roos surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Roos over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 29 #28,082
1861 historical 112 #19,279
1881 historical 95 #20,349
1891 historical 130 #20,173
1901 historical 135 #19,203
1911 historical 162 #17,003
1997 modern 149 #21,214
1998 modern 163 #20,582
1999 modern 173 #19,935
2000 modern 186 #19,055
2001 modern 178 #19,288
2002 modern 186 #19,150
2003 modern 183 #19,152
2004 modern 189 #18,855
2005 modern 186 #18,985
2006 modern 200 #18,294
2007 modern 218 #17,477
2008 modern 218 #17,638
2009 modern 221 #17,848
2010 modern 251 #16,749
2011 modern 245 #16,874
2012 modern 261 #16,041
2013 modern 264 #16,191
2014 modern 263 #16,334
2015 modern 268 #16,007
2016 modern 272 #15,832

Geography

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Where Roos' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Brancepeth and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Westminster, Elmbridge, Hackney, Elgin Central West and West Kilbride and Seamill. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Brancepeth Durham
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Westminster 019 Westminster
2 Elmbridge 012 Elmbridge
3 Hackney 016 Hackney
4 Elgin Central West Moray
5 West Kilbride and Seamill North Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Roos

These lists show first names that appear often with the Roos surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Roos

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Roos, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Roos surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Roos household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Roos is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Roos is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Roos falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Roos is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Roos, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Roos

The surname ROOS is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the Old English word 'hros' meaning horse. It is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the counties of Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire, as early as the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the ROOS surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'de Ros'. This entry refers to a Norman family who held lands in Yorkshire after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

During the Middle Ages, the spelling of the name varied, with alternate forms such as Ros, Roose, and Rouse being used. These variations likely stemmed from the different dialects and pronunciations across regions.

The ROOS surname is associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the most prominent figures was Robert de Ros (c. 1223-1285), an English nobleman who served as Lord Chancellor of England from 1264 to 1268 and played a significant role in the Barons' War against King Henry III.

Another prominent bearer of the ROOS name was William de Ros (c. 1370-1414), a medieval English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War and was present at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.

In the 16th century, Sir John Roos (c. 1527-1592) was a notable English lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 1573 to 1592.

The ROOS surname also has connections to various place names. For instance, the village of Ros in Northumberland, England, is believed to have derived its name from the ROOS family who held lands in the area during the Middle Ages.

Another notable bearer of the ROOS name was the Dutch painter Philip Roos (1655-1705), who was known for his paintings of animals and landscapes.

While the ROOS surname originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and immigration. However, its roots can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon period in England, where it was initially associated with the equestrian class or those involved with horses.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Roos families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Roos surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 31 Roos' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.82x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 31 2.82x
Middlesex 19 2.05x
Surrey 13 2.88x
Durham 11 3.99x
Leicestershire 6 5.84x
Kent 5 1.58x
Devon 2 1.04x
Yorkshire 2 0.22x
Glamorgan 1 0.62x
Hampshire 1 0.53x
Norfolk 1 0.70x
Northumberland 1 0.73x
Suffolk 1 0.89x
Warwickshire 1 0.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ardwick in Lancashire leads with 13 Roos' recorded in 1881 and an index of 131.05x.

Place Total Index
Ardwick 13 131.05x
Crook Billy Row 9 254.96x
Liverpool 8 11.98x
St George Bloomsbury 8 150.38x
Kingston On Thames 7 64.52x
Leicester All Sts 6 297.03x
Failsworth 5 198.41x
Everton 4 11.41x
Mile End Old Town 4 27.34x
Rotherhithe 4 34.93x
Deptford St Paul 3 12.30x
Clerkenwell London 2 9.14x
South Shields 2 81.30x
Whitechapel London 2 21.91x
Woolwich 2 17.12x
Barkisland 1 149.25x
Brantham 1 769.23x
Cobham 1 135.14x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 5.35x
Elswick 1 9.09x
Hackney London 1 1.92x
Heigham 1 13.07x
Ilfracombe 1 50.25x
Kensington London 1 1.94x
Lambeth 1 1.24x
Leamington Priors 1 17.39x
Newtown Nr Newbury 1 1428.57x
Northam 1 70.92x
Penarth 1 63.29x
Pendleton In Salford 1 7.63x
Poplar London 1 5.72x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Roos surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 6
Sarah 4
Annie 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Catherine 2
Katherine 2
Martha 2
Adriana 1
Alex 1
Anne 1
Caroline 1
Dorotha 1
E.Johana 1
Eleanor 1
Ellen 1
Ellenor 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Harriet 1
Julia 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1
Margaretha 1
Maria 1
Marie 1
Phillipina 1
Rose 1
Susahannah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Roos surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 6
William 6
Charles 3
James 3
Phillip 3
Thomas 3
Carl 2
George 2
Jacob 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Alfred 1
Cornelis 1
Francis 1
Franz 1
Fretiof 1
Geo. 1
Geradine 1
Gustave 1
Harry 1
Jesse 1
Joseph 1
Louis 1
Michael 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Roos surname: questions and answers

How common was the Roos surname in 1881?

In 1881, 95 people were recorded with the Roos surname. That placed it at #20,349 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Roos surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 272 in 2016. That gives Roos a modern rank of #15,832.

What does the Roos surname mean?

A Dutch and German toponymic surname indicating someone who lived near a rose garden or in a place called Roos.

What does the Roos map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Roos bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.