NameCensus.

UK surname

Rosser

An English occupational surname for someone who bred or trained horses, derived from Old French "rosser" meaning "to train horses."

In the 1881 census there were 2,185 people recorded with the Rosser surname, ranking it #2,031 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,064, ranked #2,201, down from #2,031 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Trevethin with Pontypool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rhondda Cynon Taf, Torfaen and Neath Port Talbot.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rosser is 3,247 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.2%.

1881 census count

2,185

Ranked #2,031

Modern count

3,064

2016, ranked #2,201

Peak year

1999

3,247 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rosser had 2,185 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,031 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,064 in 2016, ranked #2,201.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,865 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Rosser surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rosser surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rosser 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 1,662 #1,731
1861 historical 1,258 #2,266
1881 historical 2,185 #2,031
1891 historical 2,365 #1,983
1901 historical 2,704 #2,053
1911 historical 2,865 #1,815
1997 modern 3,076 #2,088
1998 modern 3,210 #2,087
1999 modern 3,247 #2,081
2000 modern 3,221 #2,086
2001 modern 3,149 #2,092
2002 modern 3,186 #2,110
2003 modern 3,116 #2,107
2004 modern 3,106 #2,115
2005 modern 3,074 #2,102
2006 modern 3,060 #2,118
2007 modern 3,063 #2,135
2008 modern 3,081 #2,141
2009 modern 3,159 #2,137
2010 modern 3,176 #2,180
2011 modern 3,119 #2,187
2012 modern 3,066 #2,182
2013 modern 3,106 #2,191
2014 modern 3,124 #2,193
2015 modern 3,075 #2,198
2016 modern 3,064 #2,201

Geography

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Where Rossers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, Trevethin with Pontypool, Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rhondda Cynon Taf, Torfaen and Neath Port Talbot. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Trevethin with Pontypool Monmouthshire
4 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire
5 Aberdare Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rhondda Cynon Taf 018 Rhondda Cynon Taf
2 Torfaen 004 Torfaen
3 Neath Port Talbot 014 Neath Port Talbot
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 031 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 Rhondda Cynon Taf 023 Rhondda Cynon Taf

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rosser

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rosser

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Rosser surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Rosser household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Rosser is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rosser is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rosser 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 Rosser 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Rosser

The surname Rosser is of Welsh origin, and it is believed to have originated in the region of Glamorgan, Wales, during the medieval period. The name is derived from the Welsh word "rhosyr," which means a person who lived near a small valley or a moorland.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Rosser can be traced back to the 13th century. One of the earliest documented bearers of this surname was Rhys Rosser, who lived in Glamorgan in the late 13th century. The Rosser family is also mentioned in several historical records from the same region, including the Cwmdu Manuscripts, which date back to the 14th century.

In the 16th century, the name Rosser was found in various spellings, such as Rhoser, Roser, and Rosyr, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling. One notable bearer of this surname during this period was William Rosser, a Welsh clergyman and author who lived from 1508 to 1580.

As the surname Rosser spread across Wales and beyond, it became associated with several place names, including Rosser Fawr and Rosser Fach, which were small villages in Glamorgan. The name was also linked to the Rosser family estate, which was located in the same region.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname Rosser. One of them was John Rosser (1635-1700), a Welsh clergyman and author who wrote extensively on religious topics. Another prominent figure was Thomas Rosser (1762-1846), a Welsh landowner and industrialist who played a significant role in the development of the coal industry in South Wales.

In the 19th century, the name Rosser gained prominence with the birth of William Rosser (1829-1915), a Welsh-born American politician and lawyer who served as a U.S. Representative from Texas. Additionally, Walter Rosser (1888-1967), an American mathematician and logician, made significant contributions to the field of set theory and logic.

The surname Rosser has also been associated with notable figures in the arts and literature. One such individual was Charles Rosser (1879-1954), an American playwright and screenwriter who worked in Hollywood during the early 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rosser families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rosser 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. Glamorgan leads with 1,062 Rossers recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.67x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 1,062 28.67x
Monmouthshire 425 27.63x
Gloucestershire 121 2.90x
Surrey 91 0.88x
Middlesex 85 0.40x
Pembrokeshire 55 8.13x
Carmarthenshire 52 5.80x
Brecknockshire 41 9.64x
Lancashire 37 0.15x
Herefordshire 30 3.44x
Yorkshire 26 0.12x
Warwickshire 25 0.47x
Somerset 23 0.67x
Cheshire 19 0.40x
Worcestershire 18 0.65x
Staffordshire 14 0.19x
Flintshire 9 1.57x
Durham 7 0.11x
Derbyshire 6 0.18x
Sussex 5 0.14x
Kent 4 0.06x
Lincolnshire 4 0.12x
Northumberland 4 0.13x
Cumberland 3 0.16x
Oxfordshire 3 0.23x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.16x
Royal Navy 2 0.79x
Dorset 1 0.07x
Essex 1 0.02x
Hampshire 1 0.02x
Hertfordshire 1 0.07x
Lanarkshire 1 0.01x
Midlothian 1 0.04x
Northamptonshire 1 0.05x
Wiltshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Swansea Town in Glamorgan leads with 107 Rossers recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.23x.

Place Total Index
Swansea Town 107 35.23x
Aberdare 93 36.57x
Trevethin 93 64.03x
Ystradyfodwg 88 27.08x
Llantrisant 62 66.40x
Llansamlet Lower 53 158.02x
Panteg 51 210.57x
Llansamlet Higher 48 173.66x
Merthyr Tydfil 45 12.64x
Neath 44 58.37x
Llantwit Vairdre 40 96.06x
Aberystruth 34 25.08x
Swansea Higher 34 88.13x
Clase 33 23.96x
Llanwonno 31 23.29x
Margam 30 72.62x
Cardiff St Mary 28 13.72x
St Pancras London 26 1.52x
Camberwell 25 1.84x
Eglwysilan 25 38.89x
Risca 25 86.24x
Llanelly 24 11.88x
Upper Llanvrechva 21 87.90x
Llantwit Lower 20 61.43x
West Dean 20 29.51x
Abergavenny 19 32.99x
Birmingham 19 1.06x
Roath 19 11.29x
Southwark St George Martyr 19 4.44x
Pembrey 18 43.66x
Blaenhonddan 17 98.55x
Oystermouth 16 55.83x
Llanfabon 15 77.44x
Pencoed 15 262.70x
St Woollos 15 8.74x
Chester St Mary On Hill 14 34.75x
Llanover 14 26.65x
Newland 14 39.92x
Kensington London 13 1.10x
Banwell 12 96.00x
Llanhary 12 634.92x
Neath Upper 12 123.97x
Almondsbury 11 69.05x
Dixton Hadnock 11 279.19x
Fownhope 11 144.36x
Lambeth 11 0.59x
Michaelstone Super Avon 11 27.42x
Westbury On Severn East 11 11.66x
Hornsey 10 3.72x
Olveston 10 85.25x
Upper Machen 10 94.79x
Brecknock St John 9 25.09x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 9 2.29x
Clarbeston 9 810.81x
Hawarden Saltney 9 112.50x
Llangendeirne 9 54.12x
Llangstone 9 708.66x
Newcastle Higher 9 35.79x
Rogerstone 9 94.94x
Whitchurch 9 44.93x
Woking 9 14.40x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 8 11.09x
Cardiff St John 8 6.61x
Chepstow 8 30.55x
Clytha 8 375.59x
Coedfrank 8 31.18x
Kentchurch 8 311.28x
Llangyfelach 8 57.68x
Manchester 8 0.70x
Newport 8 10.90x
Ruardean 8 84.84x
Skenfrith 8 175.82x
Swansea Lower 8 42.35x
Wiston 8 152.67x
Wolverhampton 8 1.45x
Llansoy 7 654.21x
Lower Mitton 7 28.59x
St Giles In Fields 7 9.54x
St Hilary 7 673.08x
Westbury On Trym 7 4.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 169
Elizabeth 91
Ann 70
Sarah 67
Margaret 60
Jane 54
Eliza 33
Catherine 32
Anne 22
Martha 20
Alice 19
Hannah 19
Rachel 19
Annie 18
Edith 17
Emma 15
Ellen 13
Emily 13
Clara 12
Charlotte 10
Caroline 9
Harriet 7
Maria 7
Fanny 6
Frances 6
Gwen 6
Gwenllian 6
Margret 6
Matilda 6
Ada 5
Louisa 5
Sophia 5
Cathrine 4
Florence 4
Jessie 4
Julia 4
Leah 4
Margt. 4
Naomi 4
Ruth 4
Agnes 3
Amelia 3
Bertha 3
Elizth. 3
Esther 3
Kate 3
Lilly 3
Lucy 3
Susan 3
Bessey 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 169
John 163
Thomas 104
David 73
George 53
James 44
Charles 35
Edward 34
Henry 33
Richard 25
Alfred 21
Joseph 21
Evan 18
Walter 14
Albert 13
Benjamin 12
Morgan 12
Robert 10
Edwin 9
Isaac 9
Jenkin 9
Samuel 9
Philip 8
Rosser 8
Wm. 8
Arthur 7
Daniel 6
Frederick 6
Jno. 6
Phillip 6
Thos. 6
Ernest 5
Herbert 5
Francis 4
Harry 4
Rees 4
Sydney 4
Abraham 3
Edgar 3
Edmund 3
Gwilym 3
Howell 3
Roger 3
Tom 3
Alexander 2
Dd. 2
Fred 2
Lewis 2
Nathaniel 2
Sidney 2

FAQ

Rosser surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rosser surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,185 people were recorded with the Rosser surname. That placed it at #2,031 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rosser surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,064 in 2016. That gives Rosser a modern rank of #2,201.

What does the Rosser surname mean?

An English occupational surname for someone who bred or trained horses, derived from Old French "rosser" meaning "to train horses."

What does the Rosser map show?

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