This surname has two origins in England, both being derived from place names. The majority of those who hold this name are likely descendants of a British family who hailed from a place in the North of England. Exactly where cannot be ascertained. One possibility is Roscow Fold, an ancient message in the township of Breightmet, Lancashire. However Historical Gleanings of Bolton and District states this place took its name from the family, who were living there as early as the early 17th century. It is also possible that Ruscoe is a shortened form of Briscoe, which originated from a township of the same name in Romaldkirk parish, Yorkshire. The earliest reference to this name is a mention of a James de Roscow, named in a late 19th century history of Knutsford in Cheshire; though no other references can be found of this person. The earliest primary source is from 1383 as 'de Roscow,' and later 'de Roschogh.' Another possible origin is from a place called Riscough, mentioned in 1305 as a place in Melsonby, Yorkshire. Surnames ending in -coe and -cough almost wholly originate from Lancashire and Yorkshire, so it is highly likely the family originates from one of the two counties; though there are several other places the surnames is much less likely to originate from, including Rouscoe, in co. Tipperary and Russagh, or Rossaugh, co. Cork.

The -coe termination is derived from the Old Norse, 'skógr,' meaning wood.

This surname may also be a Huguenot surname, brought into southern England by religious refuges from the continent. This surname is found as 'Rouscoe.' The appearance of an Anglican Roscowe clergyman in 1542 rules out the possibility of the Lancashire family being of Huguenot origin. Names of a similar spelling can be found throughout Europe.Stolen from Fore bears

• 1383. John de Roscow, chaplain (Lancashire): Coppull Deeds
• 1456. John de Roschogh, chaplain of Worthington (later Roscogh): Coppull
Deeds
• 1542. Willimus Roscowe, ordained subdeacon, Chester Diocese: Church of England Clergy DB
• 1587. Thomas Hatter, alias Roscow, buried: Eccles PRs
• 1601. Hugh Roscough of Coppull: Coppull Deeds
• 1754. Sarah, d. of Job & Elizabeth Ruscoe (Shropshire): Eaton-under-Heywood PRs

This surname is derived from a geographical locality. Mr. Lower says, 'Possibly a corruption of Roscrowe. It is certainly a Cornish name' (Patronymica Britannica). I take leave to doubt this statement. I feel sure it is a Lancashire local surname, although I cannot find the spot.

Gilbert Roscoe, of Euxton, Lancashire, 1303: Wills at Chester.

James Roscoe. of Farnworth, Lancashire 1303: ibid.

John Roscow, of Leigh (Lancashire), 1504: ibid.

(Scandinavian) belonging to Roscoe (Lancs), 16th cent. Roscoe and Roscow = the Roe-Wood [Old Norse rá (Dano-Norwegian raa-pron. raw), a roe + Old Norse skóg-r (Dano-Norwegian skov), a wood]

Possibly a corruption of Roscrowe. It is certainly a Cornish name.