Ross'a last name popularity, history, and meaning

Find out how popular the last name Ross'a is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Ross'a.

Meaning of Ross'a

An Italian surname meaning "red" or "red-haired" person.

Ross'a, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Ross'a surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Ross'a in America

Ross'a is the 35288th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ross'a surname appeared 604 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Ross'a.

The history of the last name Ross'a

The surname Rossa originates from Italy, with its roots tracing back to medieval times, around the 12th to 14th centuries. It is primarily derived from the word "rosso," which translates to "red" in Italian, often used as a descriptive nickname for someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion. The name is especially common in northern Italy, in regions such as Lombardy and Veneto.

Historically, the surname Rossa appears in a variety of records, including feudal documents and town registries. One of the earliest references to the name can be found in an Italian manuscript from the early 13th century, which documented tax records and listed a certain Pietro de Rossa as a landowner in the Veneto region. Variants of the name, including Rossi and Rosso, also appear in these documents, pointing to a common practice of using descriptive or occupational surnames during this period.

In the 14th century, the name Rossa appears in the chronicles of Milan, where a noble family bearing the name played a significant role in local politics. Giovanni Rossa (1325-1378) is noted for his contributions to the city’s administration and his efforts in resolving local disputes. The family's prominence grew, and by the 15th century, the Rossas were recognized as one of the influential families in Lombardy.

The surname Rossa also appears in connection with religious and scholarly figures. In the 16th century, Francesco Rossa (1510-1580), a Benedictine monk, was well-regarded for his theological writings and translations of classical texts. His work had a lasting impact on the intellectual climate of the Renaissance in Italy.

During the 19th century, the name gained further recognition with individuals such as Giuseppe Rossa (1832-1889), an Italian patriot involved in the unification of Italy. He fought alongside Garibaldi and was a key figure in the Risorgimento movement, which sought to consolidate the various states of the Italian Peninsula into a single nation.

In addition, the name Rossa appears in the artistic realm with the painter Carlo Rossa (1840-1901), whose works encapsulate the essence of Italian Romanticism. His paintings are held in various Italian museums and reflect the rich cultural heritage of his homeland.

Over centuries, the name Rossa has maintained its regional roots while also witnessing periods of migration and dispersion, leading to its presence in other countries. Despite these changes, the name continues to carry with it a sense of historical and cultural significance tied to its Italian origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ross'a

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Ross'a.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

  1. White only
  2. Black only
  3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
  4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
  5. Hispanic
  6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Ross'a was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 89.24% 539
Non-Hispanic Black Only 3.64% 22
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.99% 6
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 4.80% 29

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Ross'a was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ross'a, please contact us.

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Ross'a last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 6, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/rossa-surname-popularity/.

"Ross'a last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/rossa-surname-popularity/. Accessed 6 May, 2025

Ross'a last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/rossa-surname-popularity/.

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