Surname Rosher - Meaning and Origin
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Rosher: What does the surname Rosher mean?
The last name Rosher is of Anglo-Saxon origins. It is a variant of the more common surnames Rosser or Rosier, both of which originate from the Middle English and Old French words roser or rosier, meaning ‘rose-tree’ or ‘rose-bush’. The rose in heraldry is often a symbol of beauty, honour, and gratitude.
In the UK, the name can be traced as far back as the mid 16th century, where records of the Rosher family date back to 1562, when a William Rosher was buried in the churchyard of St Saviour’s in York. The Roshers has been particularly associated with the county of Kent, where an Edward Rosher was listed in the manorial records of 1583.
The Roshers migrated over the centuries to different parts of the world and can be found in the United States, Canada, France, Spain, and Australia. It is a less common name, but popular in local dialects in some of these countries.
Family names, such as Rosher, are oftentimes indicative of the values and characteristics of the people who bear them. Thus, the Rosher family is rooted in not only their history but also in the traditions and values of which they live their lives.
Order DNA origin analysisRosher: Where does the name Rosher come from?
The last name Rosher is most commonly found in England today. According to the Forebears.io website, Rosher ranks 430 out of 8,945 in popularity. The largest concentration of the name is present in the Southeast of England in the counties of Kent and London.
The earliest records of the surname Rosher come from Suffolk where they were major landowners in the area. There is evidence of the Rosher family in Brancepeth near Durham in the 17th century and later in the 18th century there is mention of them living in Northumberland. By the 19th century they had moved to Westmorland and Yorkshire.
Oxford dictionary mentions the Rosher family as one of the earliest known English families living in the country. It is thought to be a variation of the Olde English name Rassier, meaning ‘of the Roe’.
Today, Rosher is a very common surname in England. It is used in a number of places, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, too. The name is not as common as other last names that are more popular, such as Smith or Jones, but it is often found in areas with heavy English and Irish populations.
Variations of the surname Rosher
The surname Rosher is an English patronymic surname, derived from the personal name Roger, a given name of Germanic origin meaning “famous spear”. Variant spellings can include Roser, Rosers, Rozzer, Rozzers, Rouser, Rousers and Rushor.
Surnames that might be of the same origin as the Rosher surname include Rush, Rushford, Rushforth, Rushton, Rusher, Rushett, Rushing, Russer, Russey, Roush, Rousse, Rousseau, Rousseff, Roussel, Rousset, Roux, Ross, Rosser, Rosset, Rossi, Routier, Rowe and Rowling.
The popularity of the surname Rosher is most likely due to its presence in various parts of England. For example, records of the Rosher surname date back to the 1500s in Oxford, and it was commonly found in Buckinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire. In addition, the earliest record was found in Yoxall in Derbyshire around 1561.
Given the wide variety of spellings of the Rosher surname and its presence in multiple locations, it is likely that the Rosher surname developed from a combination of English, French, and German influences. It is possible that the Rosher surname was derived from the Old French rouge, meaning “red”, which was used in some cases for someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion. It is also possible that the surname originated as a given name, with the addition of the -er suffix to indicate patronymic origins.
Famous people with the name Rosher
- Olivia Rosehr: Model and influencer
- Paul Rosher: An Emmy award winning songwriter and producer
- Peter Rosher: Film and theatre director
- Michael Rosher: Business executive and entrepreneur
- Edward Rosher: British painter
- Richard Rosher: Musician and songwriter
- John Rosher: Civil War Medal of Honor recipient
- Thelma Rosher: Actress
- Angela Rosher: British sculptor
- Vincent Rosher: Academy Award winning cinematographer