Surname Rosencrance - Meaning and Origin
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Rosencrance: What does the surname Rosencrance mean?
The last name Rosencrance is of German and English origin. It is derived from an old German personal name which is composed of the elements 'hros' meaning horse and 'gund' meaning war. The surname is thought to have initially come into use as a nickname for someone who was known for his quick steed or fine horsemanship.
This surname can also be found in England with the surname, "Rousencrantz". It is derived from a variation of the German form of the name. It is thought to have come from the Old English word "raes", which refers to the dwelling of a nobleman. Therefore, it likely referred to a noble who owned a horse.
The surname can be found in records dating back to the mid 13th century. War records of the 30 Years War and the Dutch Royalty list of 1664 both make reference to the use of this surname. It is active in Germany, the Netherlands, England, and the United States of America.
In America, the Rosencrance family has roots in Pennsylvania and Ohio, with the first known immigrant being David Rousencrantz in the year 1744. Later generations of this family are likely responsible for the different variations of the spelling, such as "Rosencrance" and "Rosenschranz".
Overall, the last name Rosencrance has a colorful history. It began as a nickname for someone known for their horsemanship and was later adopted by families living in Germany, the Netherlands, and England. Furthermore, the United States of America has a proud Rosencrance family with roots in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Order DNA origin analysisRosencrance: Where does the name Rosencrance come from?
The Rosencrance surname is predominantly found in the United States and Canada. It is an English surname found mostly in its original colonial homeland. The English origin of the name is thought to derive from the phrase "race of the crane".
The surname is associated with many places around the United States and Canada including Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, and New York. It is believed that the earliest occurrence of the surname in America dates back to 1680 when Richard Rosencrance is found as a witness in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The earliest record of the name in Canada dates back to 1852 when Samuel Rosencrance appeared on a manifest of a ship arriving in New Brunswick.
In modern times, the Rosencrance name continues to be found in the United States and Canada. It is most prevalent in Pennsylvania, which is where the earliest occurrence of the surname on record appears to have taken place. The name is also much more common in the United States compared to Canada, with over 6,000 occurrences of the name Rosencrance in a census from 2020.
Variations of the surname Rosencrance
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Rosencrance are numerous.
Some of the variants include Rosecrance, Roosencrance, Rosenkrantz, Rosencrantz, Rosencrants, Rosencrays, Rosenshine, Ranscrance, Rosenkranson, and Rosencranz.
Most of Rosencrance variants are rooted in the German and Danish languages, where it originally derived.
The suffix “-krantz,” quite common amongst the Rosencrance variants, is just one example of this. It is derived from the Old Norse verb “krensning,” meaning “bend or to break.”
In many cases, the spelling variants are due to the way Rosencrance has been adapted to different languages and regions, such as when parts of the name are shifted around to make it easier to pronounce.
The surname can also be seen in different spellings due to incorrect documentation of the name in official records such as birth and death certificates, where family names became inadvertently altered when a certain spelling became accepted in its own right.
The Rosencrance descendants, however, have been imaginative in the use of spelling variants in their own communication, often using creative spelling to personalise their particular surname, or to make it sound more interesting.
These spellings can be seen in some interesting family names, including Roosnekrand, Rosenskinde, Rosenschein, Roosencranse, Rosenkrancz, Roosenkranc, and Roosencrantz.
Regardless of its variants, Rosencrance has been a surname associated with people of strong will and determination, who are driven by the goals that they set for themselves and their families.
Famous people with the name Rosencrance
- Stan Rosencrans: is an American former politician and business executive. He served as the mayor of Downers Grove, Illinois from 1975–1976.
- Peter Rosenkrantz: is a Danish author, historian, and journalist. He is particularly known for his biographies of various figures of Danish culture and literature, as well as the drama television series Vildspor.
- William Rosencrans: is an American Emmy and CableACE Award-winning visual effects director and producer. He is best known for his work on the television shows Babylon 5 and Star Trek: Deep Space 9.
- Alex Rosencrans: is an American film editor. He is Known for his work on films including Ladrones, The Good Life and Surrogates.
- Bruce Rosencrans: is an American former Judge of the Michigan Court of Appeals.
- Jed Rosencrans: is an American lacrosse player and entrepreneur. He is a founder of Counter Culture Lacrosse, an apparel brand and manufacturer of lacrosse equipment.
- William V. Rosencrans, Jr.: is an American retired Rear Admiral in the United States Navy. During his career he held command of a US Navy squadron and served as Commander of the Eighth Coast Guard District.
- Daniel Rosencrans: is an American runner, specializing in middle distance track events. He was a finalist in the 1500m at the 2011 IAAF World Championships in Athletics and competed for the United States at the 2012 Olympic Games.
- Brittany Rosencrans: is an American former professional tennis player. She reached her highest singles ranking of World No. 211 on April 13, 2009.
- Clay Rosencrans: is an American former professional baseball player. He played parts of two seasons (1959 and 1964) in Major League Baseball as an outfielder, mainly for the Boston Red Sox.