NameCensus.

UK surname

Rosson

A habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "red marsh" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 191 people recorded with the Rosson surname, ranking it #13,224 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 213, ranked #18,785, down from #13,224 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Watford, Sandbach and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stoke-on-Trent, Warrington and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rosson is 254 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.5%.

1881 census count

191

Ranked #13,224

Modern count

213

2016, ranked #18,785

Peak year

1911

254 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rosson had 191 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,224 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 213 in 2016, ranked #18,785.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 254 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Rosson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rosson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rosson 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 136 #13,892
1861 historical 119 #18,393
1881 historical 191 #13,224
1891 historical 179 #16,198
1901 historical 213 #14,563
1911 historical 254 #12,748
1997 modern 169 #19,578
1998 modern 205 #17,850
1999 modern 204 #18,021
2000 modern 209 #17,723
2001 modern 213 #17,267
2002 modern 210 #17,753
2003 modern 199 #18,195
2004 modern 200 #18,213
2005 modern 193 #18,572
2006 modern 196 #18,512
2007 modern 182 #19,618
2008 modern 193 #19,077
2009 modern 199 #19,090
2010 modern 206 #19,066
2011 modern 204 #19,040
2012 modern 186 #20,141
2013 modern 195 #19,857
2014 modern 201 #19,641
2015 modern 206 #19,208
2016 modern 213 #18,785

Geography

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Where Rossons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Watford, Sandbach, Manchester, Luton and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stoke-on-Trent, Warrington, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Manchester. 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 Watford Hertfordshire
2 Sandbach Cheshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Luton Bedfordshire
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stoke-on-Trent 006 Stoke-on-Trent
2 Warrington 008 Warrington
3 Newcastle-under-Lyme 003 Newcastle-under-Lyme
4 Manchester 029 Manchester
5 Stoke-on-Trent 003 Stoke-on-Trent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rosson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rosson

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Rosson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Rosson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Rosson is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rosson is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rosson falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rosson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Rosson

The surname Rosson is believed to have originated in England, with roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "ros," meaning a rose, suggesting a possible connection to an occupation or location associated with roses.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rosson can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and properties in England commissioned by William the Conquer in 1086. This historical document mentions individuals bearing variations of the name, such as "Rosson" and "Rossun."

During the 13th century, records show the presence of the surname Rosson in various parts of England, including Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. It is believed that the name may have originated from place names like Rossington, a village in Yorkshire, or Rossall, a town in Lancashire.

Notable individuals with the surname Rosson throughout history include Sir John Rosson (1580-1656), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles I. Another prominent figure was William Rosson (1702-1774), a renowned architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London during the Georgian era.

In the 18th century, records show the presence of the Rosson family in the county of Cheshire, where they were landowners and held influential positions within the local community. One notable individual from this era was Thomas Rosson (1745-1812), a wealthy merchant and philanthropist who funded the construction of several schools and hospitals in the region.

As the surname spread across England, it also found its way to other parts of the British Isles. In Scotland, the Rossons were known for their involvement in the textile industry, with several members holding prominent roles in the wool trade during the 19th century. One such figure was James Rosson (1812-1887), a successful wool merchant and mill owner from Galashiels.

Throughout its history, the surname Rosson has been associated with various occupations, from agriculture and trade to politics and architecture. While its exact origins remain shrouded in speculation, the name has left an indelible mark on the annals of British history, reflecting the diverse contributions of those who bore it.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rosson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rosson 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. Bedfordshire leads with 64 Rossons recorded in 1881 and an index of 67.04x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 64 67.04x
Lancashire 25 1.14x
Cheshire 19 4.67x
Hertfordshire 17 13.38x
Warwickshire 16 3.44x
Staffordshire 13 2.09x
Derbyshire 11 3.81x
Glamorgan 7 2.18x
Surrey 7 0.78x
Shropshire 3 1.88x
Middlesex 2 0.11x
Durham 1 0.18x
Hampshire 1 0.26x
Kent 1 0.16x
Norfolk 1 0.35x
Northamptonshire 1 0.58x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Luton in Bedfordshire leads with 54 Rossons recorded in 1881 and an index of 326.68x.

Place Total Index
Luton 54 326.68x
Birmingham 14 9.03x
Stoke Upon Trent 12 18.18x
Cranage 10 3571.43x
Watford 10 101.52x
Salford 9 13.99x
Manchester 7 7.12x
Swansea Town 7 26.60x
Bushey 6 198.02x
Derby St Werburgh 6 35.99x
Leighton Buzzard 6 145.99x
Glossop Dale 5 36.98x
Church Lawton 4 769.23x
Dunstable 4 136.52x
Battersea 3 4.42x
Newington 3 4.40x
Whittle Le Woods 3 410.96x
Aston 2 1.56x
Sandbach 2 57.64x
Shifnal 2 46.30x
Toxteth Park 2 2.70x
Aughton 1 46.08x
Beswick 1 17.89x
Bisley 1 243.90x
Burslem 1 5.61x
Chelsea London 1 1.80x
Edgmond 1 57.14x
Elton 1 13.23x
Gillingham 1 7.71x
Heworth 1 9.25x
Hyde 1 8.33x
Kilverstone 1 2000.00x
Monks Coppenhall 1 6.51x
Northampton St Sepulchre 1 11.34x
Offley 1 120.48x
Smallwood 1 277.78x
St George Hanover 1 4.15x
Stretford 1 8.31x
Titchfield 1 35.09x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 11
John 10
Charles 6
Henry 5
Albert 4
James 4
Thomas 4
Arthur 3
Frederick 3
George 3
Walter 3
Edward 2
Frank 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Abraham 1
Alfred 1
Chas. 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Willie 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Rosson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rosson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 191 people were recorded with the Rosson surname. That placed it at #13,224 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rosson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 213 in 2016. That gives Rosson a modern rank of #18,785.

What does the Rosson surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "red marsh" in Old English.

What does the Rosson map show?

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