NameCensus.

UK surname

Ros

A Spanish and Catalan nickname derived from the word "ros," meaning "red" or "ruddy," likely referring to red hair or complexion.

In the 1881 census there were 18 people recorded with the Ros surname, ranking it #31,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 140, ranked #24,865, up from #31,019 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dacorum, Shropshire and Slough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ros is 141 in 2012. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 677.8%.

1881 census count

18

Ranked #31,019

Modern count

140

2016, ranked #24,865

Peak year

2012

141 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ros had 18 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,019 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016, ranked #24,865.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 41 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Ros surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ros surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ros 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 41 #25,926
1881 historical 18 #31,019
1891 historical 15 #32,956
1901 historical 27 #31,057
1997 modern 89 #28,490
1998 modern 81 #29,849
1999 modern 85 #29,578
2000 modern 71 #31,082
2001 modern 67 #31,297
2002 modern 64 #32,007
2003 modern 66 #31,879
2004 modern 71 #31,578
2005 modern 76 #31,267
2006 modern 80 #31,149
2007 modern 94 #29,650
2008 modern 112 #27,061
2009 modern 112 #27,685
2010 modern 115 #27,874
2011 modern 112 #28,117
2012 modern 141 #24,258
2013 modern 132 #25,789
2014 modern 134 #25,711
2015 modern 134 #25,607
2016 modern 140 #24,865

Geography

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Where Ros' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dacorum, Shropshire, Slough, Barnet and Brent. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dacorum 020 Dacorum
2 Shropshire 004 Shropshire
3 Slough 012 Slough
4 Barnet 041 Barnet
5 Brent 026 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ros

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ros

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ros, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Ros surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Ros household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Ros is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ros 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

Ros falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ros is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Ros

The surname Ros has its origins in Spain and dates back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Catalan word "ros," meaning "red-haired" or "reddish." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone with reddish hair or complexion.

In the early days, the name was spelled in various ways, such as Ros, Roz, Rosse, and Roig. It is believed to have originated in the regions of Catalonia and Valencia, where it was particularly prevalent during the medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ros can be found in the Llibre del Repartiment, a document from the 13th century that recorded the distribution of lands and properties in the Kingdom of Valencia after the Reconquista.

The surname Ros has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest was Ramon de Ros, a Catalan nobleman who lived in the 13th century and served as a military commander during the Reconquest of Valencia.

Another prominent individual bearing this name was Pedro Ros de Ursinos, a Spanish admiral and diplomat from the 16th century, who played a significant role in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.

In the 17th century, Juan Ros de Olano was a Spanish writer and historian who authored several works on the history of Valencia and its nobility.

Moving to the 18th century, José Ros de Olano y Peralta (1670-1738) was a Spanish military officer and viceroy of New Granada (present-day Colombia and Panama) from 1719 to 1723.

In the 19th century, Joaquín Ros de Olano (1808-1886) was a Spanish lawyer and politician who served as the Minister of Justice and the Interior during the reign of Queen Isabella II.

Over the centuries, the surname Ros has spread beyond Spain and can be found in various parts of Europe, Latin America, and other regions with Spanish influence. However, its origins and early development can be traced back to the Iberian Peninsula, particularly the regions of Catalonia and Valencia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ros families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ros 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. Hampshire leads with 7 Ros' recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.62x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 7 20.62x
Lancashire 2 1.02x
Staffordshire 2 3.58x
Fife 1 10.19x
Hertfordshire 1 8.76x
Lanarkshire 1 1.87x
Midlothian 1 4.51x
Norfolk 1 3.93x
Perthshire 1 13.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 6 Ros' recorded in 1881 and an index of 90.23x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 6 90.23x
Tamworth 2 666.67x
Bushey 1 370.37x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 11.20x
Hamilton 1 67.11x
Liverpool 1 8.38x
Logie 1 370.37x
Thornham 1 909.09x
Torryburn 1 2500.00x
Upper Clatford 1 2500.00x
Watton 1 1250.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 3
Ann 1
Annie 1
Kezia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Albert 1
Anders 1
Claude 1
George 1
John 1
Philip 1
William 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Ros households.

FAQ

Ros surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ros surname in 1881?

In 1881, 18 people were recorded with the Ros surname. That placed it at #31,019 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ros surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016. That gives Ros a modern rank of #24,865.

What does the Ros surname mean?

A Spanish and Catalan nickname derived from the word "ros," meaning "red" or "ruddy," likely referring to red hair or complexion.

What does the Ros map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ros 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.