Surname Roxbrough - Meaning and Origin
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Roxbrough: What does the surname Roxbrough mean?
The last name Roxbrough is an English habitational name derived from the place-names Roxburgh and Roxbury. Both of these places are named in Old English as Roxanburg and Ruocesburh respectively, and both are derived from the Old English words rocc 'a large rock', and burg 'a fortified town or castle'. The first written tradesman with the name Roxbrough was recorded in London, England, in 1293.
The name is believed to be Norman in origin, and became prominent in the region of Northumberland following the Norman Conquest of 1066. Other follows of the name include the Roxburghshire branch which were first found in the area around the town of Kelso.
Some believe that the name could be connected to the Viking settlers in the area, as Roxbrough was first used as an Old Norse surname by 11th century Scandinavian settlers in England.
The name Roxbrough is still relatively common in the North East England, and the North East United States. Variations of the name can also be found as Roxburgh, Roxburry, and Roxburough. There are also some families who have adopted the more gaelic spelling of the name, Roxbrough, as Rocco-Brúch in either the Irish or Scottish Gaelic language.
Roxbrough can be interpreted as a strong and powerful symbol of family and heritage, suggesting a connection to events in history related to the Norman Conquest and the subsequent Viking influence on the area.
Order DNA origin analysisRoxbrough: Where does the name Roxbrough come from?
The surname Roxbrough is most commonly associated with England, though it may also be found in other locations such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. Census records show that in England, Roxbrough is most concentrated in the West Midlands region, with it being particularly prevalent in Shropshire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire in particular. Additionally, Roxbrough can be found in small numbers in Cumberland, Durham, and Suffolk.
In the United States, the surname Roxbrough is most prominent in Louisiana, particularly in Orleans, East Baton Rouge, and St. Tammany Parishes. It also shows up in smaller numbers in California, Michigan, and Arkansas. Canada likewise displays Roxbrough in its census records, primarily located in Ontario and Quebec. Finally, Australia shows a strong presence of the surname, with it making up 4.55 people per million in the country.
Ultimately, it is difficult to precisely track the number and distribution of people carrying the surname of Roxbrough worldwide owing to its relative scarcity. However, it is reasonable to assume that the greatest concentrations of the surname Roxbrough are in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Australia.
Variations of the surname Roxbrough
Roxbrough is an uncommon English surname, with a few spelling variants. It is derived from the Old English locational term "Rochesbrugge".
The most common variant of Roxbrough is Rocksborough, which is believed to have its origins in a lost medieval village. This variant is also the most popular spelling in the United States.
Other, less common variants of the Roxbrough surname include Rocksbrough, Rocksboro, Roachesboro, Roacheborough, Roachborough, Rochsbrough, Rockborough, Rook'sborough, Rookesburg, Rooksburg, Rucksbrough, and Ruckesburg.
Variations in the spelling of Roxbrough could be due to translation errors by officials or academics who weren't aware of the spelling conventions of the time. Another possibility is that the owners of the village historically changed the spelling of Roxbrough to make it sound more important than it was.
Surnames with a similar origin to Roxbrough include Rockson, Rocheson, Roachson, Rochson, Rokuson, and Ruckson. These interpretations of the name could have been used interchangeably in some parts of the world, depending upon regional dialects.
In conclusion, Roxbrough is an interesting and unusual surname, with many spelling variants, including Rocksborough, Rocksbrough, Roachesboro, Roacheborough, Roachborough, Rochsbrough, Rockborough, Rook'sborough, Rookesburg, Rooksburg, Rucksbrough, and Ruckesburg, as well as surnames with a similar origin, such as Rockson, Rocheson, Roachson, Rochson, Rokuson, and Ruckson.
Famous people with the name Roxbrough
- Dave Roxbrough: a former Canadian Football League player who was a running back and defensive back.
- Bill Roxbrough: an English soccer midfielder who played for Accrington Stanley, Torquay United, and Wimbledon.
- Amy Roxbrough: a London based artist, often painting with oils, and exhibiting at various galleries.
- James Roxbrough: a British environmental campaigner and freelance journalist.
- Andrew Roxbrough: a patents and trademarks lawyer based in Cambridge, England.
- Darren Roxbrough: a Scottish footballer who played for Aberdeen F.C.
- Rachel Roxbrough: a British paralympic swimmer who competed in the Paralympics in 2016.
- Jenny Roxbrough: a contemporary artist whose work centers around the themes of social issues, consumerism, and inequality.
- Michael Roxbrough: a British politician, previously a member of Parliament for Tiverton and Honiton.
- Henry Roxbrough: a contemporary stained-glass artist based in England. His stained glass installations can be seen in numerous churches and other public buildings throughout England.