This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Rose.' Latin rosa, a rose. Very popular at the period surnames were becoming hereditary; hence strongly represented in all our directories.

Thomas fil. Rose, Cambridgeshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Richard fil. Rose, Nottinghamshire, ibid.

Adam Costenoght et Rosa uxor ejus, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Johannes Rose, 1379: ibid.

Rosa Held, 1379: ibid.

Or, again from the same period: Johanna Rose-doghter, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Isabella filia Rose, 1379: ibid.

Rosa de Berlowe, 1379: ibid.

(2) Local, 'of the rose,' i.e. at the rose-tree, or at the sign of the Rose.

John de la Rose, Oxfordshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Robert de la Rose, Oxfordshire ibid.

Elena de la Ros, Oxfordshire, ibid.

This surname is derived from a nickname. 'le rous,' from the reddish complexion of hair or face; v. Russell.

Alexander le Rous, Cambridgeshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Juliana la Rouse, Oxfordshire, ibid.

Alicia Rouze, Cambridgeshire, ibid.

John le Rus, Lincolnshire, ibid.

Gilbert Russ, Lincolnshire, ibid.

Lucia la Russe, Oxfordshire, ibid.

Robert le Rous, Somerset, 1 Edward III: Kirby's Quest.

1643-4. Thomas Salter and Philippa Rous: Marriage Lic. (London).

1659. Buried — George Ruse: St. Peter, Cornhill.

1666 Thomas Rowse and Mary Norwood: Marriage Lic. (Faculty Office).

1668. Married — Nicolas Rouse and Jone Woodmus: St. James, Clerkenwell.

1767. — Samuel Russ and Mary Jones: St. George, Hanover Square.

This surname is derived from a nickname. ; v. Rous, a variant.

1547. Buried — Anne Rowse: St. Peter, Cornhill.

1618. Henry Rowse and Elizabeth Matthewes: Marriage Lic. (London).

The family of Rose of Kilravock are believed to be a branch of de Ross, which see. They did not blossom into a great clan but have kept well to the old acres, and show a remarkably unbroken pedigree, every link being proved by documentary evidence in A Genealogical deduction of the family of Rose of Kilravock, 1848. The tradition in Clan Donald (I, p. 101) that the family are descended from one of the Irish O'Cathans is worthless. Muriel de Roys granted a charter, 1333 (Rose, p. 116), and William Rose was a charter witness in inverness, c. 1360 (Grant, III, p. 12). Andrew de Rose was perpetual vicar of Innerafferayn in the diocese of Ross, 1440 (Pop. Lett., IX, p. 445).

From OF. rous, russet, red, probably referring to the complexion or hair. Duncan le Rous, burgess of Haddington, and Morice le Rous, burgess of Stirling, rendered homage in 1296 (Bain, II, p. 186,197). Johannes Rous or Rowse was juror on inquest apud Rane, 1413, 1418 (REA., I, p. 214,216). Rose, Rouse, Ruse.

(Anglo-French-Latin) Red, Red-Haired [Middle English Anglo-French rous(e, Old French rous (French roux -sse, Prov. ros), Latin russ-us, red] Jordan le Rous.—Cal. Inq. P.M.

Juliana la Rouse.—Hundred Rolls In Malory we find the name with prefixed ‘de la’— My lordes name is the duke de la Rouse.—Morte d'Arthur, VII. xxxii.

My name is, said he, the duke de la Rowse.—Idem, VII. xxxiv.

This name was usually Latinized Rufus.

Cp. Russ, Russell.

(French, English) The red-haired man, or one with a ruddy complexion.

“This family is Norman; and in 1165 held lands near Rouen from the county of Breteuil (Duchesne, Feod. Normanniæ). Ralph le Roux was sent in 1119 by Henry I. to the aid of Ralph de Guader (Ord. Vital. 857), and in 1120 was one of the nobles who perished with Prince Henry in the Blanche Nef. The English line descends from Turchil Rufus or Le Rous, who came to England in 1066, and held lands in Norfolk from Alan Fitz Flaald, ancestor of the Fitz Alans (Mon. i. 627). Alexander Rous appears in the Liber Niger; also Richard Rous, who held from De Albini in the Eastern Counties. Hugo Rufus was Viscount of Norfolk in 1225 (Roberts, Excerpta i. 227). Richard le Rous of Norfolk died 1277, and had Alan, who in 1316 was Lord of Dunham and East Lexham, Norfolk, and had Peter le Rous of Dennington, ancestor of the Rouses of that place, from whence descend the Rouses of Henham, Earls of Stradbroke.” - The Norman People. Dennington was brought into the family in the time of Edward III. by the marriage of Peter Rous with a Hobart heiress, and increased by subsequent matches with the heiresses of Le Watre and Philips. The latter lady was the representative of one of the co-heirs of Erpingham. “Al the Rousis that be in Southfolk cum, as I can learne, oute of the House of Rouse of Dinnington. Diverse of the Rouses of this Eldest House ly in Dinnington Paroche Chirche buried under flat Stones. Antony Rouse, now the Heire of Dinnington Haule, hath much enlargid his Possessions.” - Leland. It was this Sir Anthony, Comptroller of Calais, who in 1535 bought their present residence, Henham Hall, the ancient seat of the De La Poles, and afterwards of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, and of Sir Arthur Hopton, to whom it had been granted by Henry VIII. It was a very fine house, but “was burnt down in 1773 through the carelessness of a drunken butler, who, while robbing the cellar during his master’s absence in Italy, set fire to the sawdust in one of the wine-bins.” - Suckling's Suffolk. Lady Rous (perhaps Sir Anthony’s daughter-in-law) was appointed by Queen Mary one of her Quorum for Suffolk, and “did usually sit on the bench at assizes and sessions amongst the other justices, cincta gladio.” - Ibid (v. Harl. MS. 980). In the next generation, Sir John Rous was so eminent for his loyalty, that Charles II. wrote him a letter of thanks with his own hand. There is a venerable oak beneath the windows of the Hall, which, according to tradition, saved his life during the Civil War, when a party of rebels arrived at Henham with a warrant for his arrest. It was even then hollow, and having been used as a summer­house, was fitted with a door covered with bark, so curiously contrived that no one suspected the cavity thus concealed. Into this hiding place his wife promptly conveyed him; and night after night stole out to bring him food, eluding the strict watch kept over her by the Roundheads. In the hollow of the same tree, her grandson Sir Robert, a staunch Jacobite, used to assemble two or three kindred spirits, and drink the health of “the King over the water.” Baffled in discovering her secret, they next tried to force it from her by violence; but they stormed and threatened in vain; the lady’s courage was proof. She was neither to be scared nor bullied; till at last they went away discouraged, and she had carried the day.

This loyal Sir John received a baronetcy at the Restoration; and his descendant in the fourth generation - another John - was created Lord Rous of Dennington in 1796. The next heir obtained the Earldom of Stradbroke in 1821, and was the grandfather of the present Lord.

I find mention of a good many families of this name, but I cannot trace the connection between them. In Gloucestershire “the manor of Dunstbourne- Rous, soon after the Conquest, belonged to John le Rous, and continued long in the family. Roger le Rous held there 22 Ed. I.; and John le Rous temp. Ed. II. He was in rebellion against that King, and was attainted and his lands forfeited; but restored 1 Ed. III.” - Atkyns. In Wiltshire, “Richard Ruffus or Le Rous had a grant of Imber from Henry II. for his services as Chamberlain. Sir Roger and Sir John attended Ed. I. in his wars. After the time of Henry VI. I can find no descendant of Le Rous of Imber.” “Rouse a Knight gave to Hedington” (a prebend of Ramsey Abbey) “his Lordship of Bainton about half a mile from Hedington. Rouse ys buried at Hedington.” - Leland. - Hoare. “Little Mitton in Blackburnshire was granted by Robert de Lacy, 3 Henry I., to Ralph le Roux, whose posterity were named from the place.” - Whitaker's Whalley. Thomas le Rous was High Sheriff of Leicestershire 14, 15 Edward II. John Rufus, in the time of Henry III., was seated at Ragley in Warwickshire, and Lench-Randolph in Worcestershire; his last heir-male, Sir Thomas, died in 1721. Another John Rous, who died in 1491, and lies buried in the nave of Warwick Church, “was,” says Leland, “of the Howse of the Rowsis of Ragley by Alcester. He beareth three Crouns in his Armes.” The Augustinian Priory of Woodbridge in Suffolk was founded by Hugh le Rous, but at what date is uncertain. “The Prior and Convent were bound to pray and say mass for the souls of Sir Hugh, the founder, and six other knights of the same surname, registered on a table in this monastery.” - Davis's Suffolk Collections.

This common and very beautiful name is somewhat difficult to account for. I am inclined to think that it is often a substitution for Ross. The rose, it is true, has in all ages been regarded as the "Queen of Flowers," and as such has ever been associated with poetry and symbolism; but how it became a surname, I can only conjecture, that it was from the device of the original bearer, whether that was displayed upon the patrician banner, or upon the ignoble sign-post. Salverte mentions a noble family of Poland, in the twelfth century, who are known to have adopted their surname of Rose from the charge of their shield; and he adduces other instances of a similar practice. Essai, i. 240, &c. The Roses of Nairnshire, settled there from temp. Alexander III., originally wrote themselves De Boos. Hugh Rose of Geddes, by marriage with the heiress of Byset, acquired the lands of Kilravock, and had a crown charter of the barony from King John Baliol. "From that period the estate has descended lineally to the present proprietor." B.L.G.

The Old French rous, from Latin rufus, red, has originated the names Rous, Bouse, Rowse, and the diminutive Rowsell, whence also in many cases Bussell, although the last has sometimes a local source. The name occurs in the collection of names called the Boll of Battel Abbey, and there is no doubt of its early Norman origin. The cognate Leroux is still a common surname in Normandy. The ancestor of the family is said to have been Ralph le Rufus, or Rous, who came hither with the Conqueror. From him descended the noble family (Stradbroke) settled in Suffolk from temp. Edward III., and the Rouses of Cornwall and Devon. C. S. Gilbert's Cornwall. The senior line was Rous of Modbury, co. Devon; and the next branch, that of Edmerston, sprang from Sir Robert le Rous, a knight-banneret under Edward the Black Prince. B.L.G.

From some place of the name, perhaps from Rose in Perranzabuloe; from rose, rosh, a valley between hills; or from ros, a mountain meadow, common, moss. Hence the names Ress, Roose, Ros, Ross, Rosse, Rous, Rouse, Rowse, Ruse, Rush.

(French.) Red, red—haired, same as Rufus.

Or Le Roux. This family is Norman, and in 1165 held lands near Rouen from the County of Breteuil (Duchesne, Feod. Norm.). Ralph le Roux was sent 1119 by Henry I. to the aid of Ralph de Guader (Old. Vit. 857), and 1120 was one of the nobles who perished with Prince Henry in the Blanche Nef. His nephew Simon le Roux was living 1137 (Ord. Vit. 197). The English line descends from Turchil Rufus or Le Rous, who came to England 1066 and held lands in Norfolk from Alan Fitz- Flaald, ancestor of the Fitz-Alans (Mon. Angl. i. 627). Fulcher Rufus of Norfolk lived 1130 (Rot. Pip.); Henry Rufus of Norfolk 1156 (Rot. Pip.); Alexander R. 1165 (Liber Niger); also Richard R., who held from De Albini in the Eastern Counties, and half a knight’s fee at Booville, Normandy, from the County of Breteuil (Duchesne). Hugo Rufus was Viscount of Norfolk 1225, and in 1232 was deceased (Roberts, Excerpta, i. 227). Roger le Rus of Flixton, Suffolk, was dead before 1271; Richard of Norfolk d. 1277, and had Alan, who in 1316 was Lord of Dunham and E. Lexham, Norfolk, and had Peter le Rous of Dennington, ancestor of the R.s of that place, from whom descended the Rouses of Henham, Earls of Stradbroke.

Rose.—This name has at least two centres: one in the south in Dorset, Oxfordshire, and Wilts, the other in the northern midlands in Notts. It was common in Oxfordshire as far back as the 13th century (Hundred Rolls).

Rouse or Rowse is the name of an ancient Cornish family of Halton. Antony Rouse or Rowse, of Halton, was high sheriff in the reign of Elizabeth, and Sir Anthony Rous was recorder of Launceston in 1620. There was a Robert Rowse, gent., of Wutton, in the time of James I. Captain Rouse was governor of St. Mawes Castle in Cromwell's time (G. and P.).