Rossen

The surname Rossen is believed to have originated in Germany, where it was likely derived from the Germanic word "ros," meaning a horse or small pony. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname for someone who worked with horses or perhaps bred or traded them.

Alternatively, some sources indicate that Rossen could be a locational surname stemming from various place names in Germany, such as Rossen in Saxony or Roßen in Brandenburg. These places may have been named after a person or derived from the word "ros" as well.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rossen can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony dating back to the 13th century. Specifically, a record from 1285 mentions a "Henricus de Rossen."

In the 16th century, there are references to a German scholar and author named Johann Rossen (1522-1584), who wrote works on astronomy and astrology. Another notable individual with this surname was Johann Rossen (1726-1809), a German Protestant theologian and author from Pomerania.

Moving forward in time, one prominent figure with the Rossen surname was Joseph Rossen (1823-1909), an American politician who served as the 28th Governor of Wyoming from 1893 to 1895. He was born in Prussia and immigrated to the United States in the mid-19th century.

In the 20th century, Robert Rossen (1908-1966) was a notable American screenwriter, film director, and producer. He is best known for directing the classic film "The Hustler" (1961), which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Director.

Another individual of note was Sammy Rossen (1916-1967), an American boxer and actor who appeared in several films in the 1940s and 1950s, including "On the Waterfront" (1954) and "The Killers" (1964).