Roos
A Dutch and German toponymic surname indicating someone who lived near a rose garden or in a place called Roos.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 5,861 Americans carry the last name Roos. That puts it at #6,690 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.71 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 58,481 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Roos surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
5.9K
1 in 58,481
Census rank
#6,690
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
5.1K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 5,051 bearers of the surname Roos in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.71 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 6690th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Roos, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.3%) and Two or More Races (1.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Roos
The surname ROOS is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the Old English word 'hros' meaning horse. It is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the counties of Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire, as early as the 11th century.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the ROOS surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'de Ros'. This entry refers to a Norman family who held lands in Yorkshire after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.
During the Middle Ages, the spelling of the name varied, with alternate forms such as Ros, Roose, and Rouse being used. These variations likely stemmed from the different dialects and pronunciations across regions.
The ROOS surname is associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the most prominent figures was Robert de Ros (c. 1223-1285), an English nobleman who served as Lord Chancellor of England from 1264 to 1268 and played a significant role in the Barons' War against King Henry III.
Another prominent bearer of the ROOS name was William de Ros (c. 1370-1414), a medieval English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War and was present at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.
In the 16th century, Sir John Roos (c. 1527-1592) was a notable English lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 1573 to 1592.
The ROOS surname also has connections to various place names. For instance, the village of Ros in Northumberland, England, is believed to have derived its name from the ROOS family who held lands in the area during the Middle Ages.
Another notable bearer of the ROOS name was the Dutch painter Philip Roos (1655-1705), who was known for his paintings of animals and landscapes.
While the ROOS surname originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and immigration. However, its roots can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon period in England, where it was initially associated with the equestrian class or those involved with horses.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Roos
Among Census respondents with the surname Roos, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.3%) and Two or More Races (1.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Roos bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Roos surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.4%
- Hispanic or Latino2.3%
- Two or more races1.5%
- Black or African American1.3%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Roos surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #6,211 | #6,690 | -7.7% |
| Count | 5,072 | 5,051 | -0.4% |
| Per 100K | 1.88 | 1.71 | -9.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Roos bearers went from 5,072 to 5,051 (-0.4% change). The surname moved down 479 positions in the national ranking, going from #6,211 to #6,690.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Roos
FAQ
Roos surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Roos?
The surname Roos holds position #6,690 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 5,861 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.71 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Roos surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Roos, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.3%) and Two or More Races (1.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.