Surname Roscoe - Meaning and Origin

Roscoe: What does the surname Roscoe mean?

The surname Roscoe is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old Norse word "ráskvi" which means "roe deer." The name is locational and originated from Lancashire in England, where a rivulet named "Roe" flows. There was a popular belief that the Roe deer came to drink here, which is how the rivulet and later the surrounding region, a hamlet, came to be named "Roscoe". Thus, the last name likely belonged to families residing in or near this particular location. Over time, the surname also spread to other regions. It is popular in both the United Kingdom and the United States today. The name is widely recognized due to notable bearers such as historians, authors, and musicians.

Roscoe: Where does the name Roscoe come from?

The surname Roscoe is thought to have originated in the county of Roscommon in ancient Ireland. It is most commonly found in Ireland, Great Britain and America today.

Roscoe is a surname of Old English origin which is derived from the words 'ross' and 'coed', which means 'clearing in the moor'. It is also an English spelling variation of the Gaelic surname Roschoill.

In the United Kingdom, Roscoe is a relatively uncommon surname, with the majority of the population living in the county of Lancashire. Scotland also has a sizeable population of individuals bearing this surname.

In the United States, Roscoe is particularly common in the Midwestern region. The states of Michigan and Ohio have the highest concentration of individuals with the surname, but it is also found with fair regularity throughout the Midwest and in Northeastern states.

In addition, Roscoe is a popular surname in parts of Africa, particularly southern Africa. It is most common in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi.

Overall, the surname Roscoe is most commonly found in Ireland, Great Britain, the United States and Africa. Despite having its roots in Europe, this surname is now spread across the wider world, and has even been found to be amongst the most popular movement surnames in recent decades.

Variations of the surname Roscoe

The surname Roscoe is derived from the Old Norse personal name of Rostekr, which meant “renown shield.” Variants of the Roscoe surname include Rosco, Rosko, Roszik, Rosskopf, Rossco, Rossko, and Rossik.

Spelling variants of the Roscoe surname include Roskoe, Rosscoe, Rosskoe, Roskow, Rosskow, and Roskough.

Surnames from the same origin include Rush, Rushton, Rushtoni, Rusko, Rushford, Rosskopf, Rosskoff, Rasmusson, Rask, Rasku, Raskin, and Rakoff.

The Roscoe surname is also found in parts of the United Kingdom, such as Roskog, Rozkov, Roscovich, and Roskovitch. In Germany there is the variant Roosco, Roskovski, and Rozkovski. Across Eastern Europe names like Roskowitz, Roskar, and Rozkar can be found.

The Roscoe surname is also found across the United States, especially with California having the largest population. The surname is also found in Canada and Australia, and is found in parts of Europe, such as Denmark, France, and Poland.

Overall, the Roscoe surname has a large amount of spelling and surname variations which are associated with countries from all over the world, and all of these variations come from the same origin.

Famous people with the name Roscoe

• Kenton Roscoe: an American comedian
• Philip Moss Roscoe: a Scottish author
• Jimmy Roscoe: an American actor
• Irv Roscoe: an American actor
• Ezra T. Grosvenor Roscoe: a former US Congressman
• John Roscoe: an English cricketer
• David Roscoe: an Australian writer
• James Roscoe: an English illustrator
• Charley Roscoe: a Cuban-American actor
• Eugene Roscoe: an American professional wrestler
• Kim Roscoe: an American musician
• Larry Roscoe: an American actor
• S. David Roscoe: a chess master
• Charles Roscoe: an English painter
• Gerald Roscoe: an American sculptor

Other surnames

RoscoRoscow