Ross Family Tree research resources
Investigate the background of the Ross Family History using the resources below. We hope you find these sites useful whilst you are researching your Family Tree !
 | Did you know that in the 1881 UK census there were 32729 people with the Ross surname? In that year Ross was ranked number 97 for popularity in the UK. |
"Local: from the district of Ross. Robert de Ross married Isabel, daughter of William the Lion. Sir John Ross was created Lord Ross in 1489. "(The origin and signification of Scottish surnames. Clifford Stanley Sims, 1862)
Ross records on Ancestry
Ancestry is a major source of information if you are filling out your Ross family tree. A vast range of data is available to search ranging from census records, births, deaths and marriages, military records and immigration records to name but a few. Free trials are normally available and are a good way to fill out a lot of your tree quickly.
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Ancestry.com Global records search results for the Ross family. |
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Ancestry.com US records search results for the Ross family. |
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Ancestry.co.uk UK records search results for the Ross family. |
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Ancestry.ca Canadian records search results for the Ross family. |
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Ancestry.com.au Australian records search results for the Ross family. |
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Historical References
"ROSS. (1) The first record of this surname in Scotland is in Ayrshire, a considerable portion of the northern part of which in the twelfth century was held by a family of Ros or Ross, that came from Yorkshire. Godfrey de Ros, a vassal of the de Morevilles, obtained from Richard de Moreville the lands of Stewarton in Cunningham (Chalmers i, p. 505). James de Ros, Reginald de Ros, and Peter de Ros appear about the same time as vassals of Richard de Moreville and as witnesses in his charters. Godfrey de Ros witnessed de Moreville's charter of Gillemoristun, "que antiquitus uocabatur peniacob" to Edulfus films Utredi, a. 1189 (REG., p. 39). Sir Godfrey de Rose, Arthur de Ross, and Fergus de Rosse witnessed an agreement between the burgesses of Irvine and Brice of Eglunstone, 1205 (Irvine, i, p. 3). Several of the name rendered homage, 1296 (Bain, n). Godfrey de Roos in 1363 had a gift for life of the forfeited lands of Sir John Maxwell and of Bernard of Howdene for his services to England (Bain, rv, 88). Robert de Rooss was charter witness in Perth, 1409 (REB., i, 26), Donaldus de Ross witnessed a notarial instrument, 1413 (Pottok, i, p. 146), and John Roosse (Rosse, Roos) of Montgrenane was one of the conservators of the three years truce, 1484-86 (Bain, rv, 1505, 1520, 1521). (2) In the north the surname is derived from the district of Ross. Malcolm, earl of Ross, c. 1150, was of the Gaelic family of O'Beolan. "There never was an earl who bore the surname of Ross, but when the title passed to descendants in the female line, the lairds of Balnagown assumed the name as male representatives of the earls" (Sc. Ant., TV, p. 1). Alexander Ross of Balnagown, Master William Ross, and William Ross were among those killed in the battle of Aldecharwis, 1486 (Kalendar of Ferne). (3) A descriptive name, from Middle English rous(eOld French rous, red, or red-haired. There was a dispute in 1306 concerning the lands of John le Rous' of Macfothel (Bain, n, p. 501). Stevin the Ros was charter witness, 1455 (Scon, 217), and John the Rosse, baxter in Aberdeen, was forbidden to bear arms, 1484 (CRA., p. 40). John Ross (1726-1800), merchant and U. S. Revolutionary patriot, was bom in Tain. "(The surnames of Scotland. George Fraser Black, 1866-1948)
DNA
Sometimes you can run into a brick wall in your tree and you just don't have enough evidence to make that next step back in time. If you are lucky then you may find some previously undiscovered Ross ancestors. Additionally, the modern DNA test can give you a breakdown of your ethnic mix - you may be surprised at the results!
Have you reached a brick wall in your Ross Tree?
Visit our Ross DNA page to find out more.
Birth, Death and Marriage Records for the Ross Genealogy
Birth, Death and Marriage records are often the best method of making the links to the Ross Genealogy that will form part of your family tree. Although records vary from country to country, they are normally the most formal record of a person's relations. From the sources listed below it will be possible to locate a birth record and, from that record, a birth certificate may be obtainable which is likely to list the names of the parents, therefore taking you back another generation. A marriage certificate may also list the names of the respective fathers of the bride and groom which may then help you to find them earlier in life on a census record enabling you to fill out more detail in the Ross family tree.
Look at Ross Parish Records at Find My Past.
Study the UK registered births, marriages and deaths for the Ross family name using the FreeBMD database.
Explore Genealogy Bank for Ross family records.
Search MyHeritage for Ross family data.
Investigate the LDS Database for records of the Ross family.
Research the Ross surname using fold3 Military Archives and view images of original Ross Military records.
| Did you know that there are currently 40564 people with the Ross surname in the UK? Ross is now ranked number 106 for popularity in the UK. |
Ross Family Tree Databases
Search WikiTree for user contributed Ross family records. Collaboration is encouraged so that accuracy of Ross data can be verified or corrected by other users.
Check out MyTrees for information on the Ross family and people looking to contact living Ross relations.
Explore GENi for Ross family records.
Find your Irish Ross relatives on findmypast.ie
Ross Forums
Research the Ross surname using Genealogy.com forums .
| Did you know that there are currently 291672 people with the Ross surname in the USA? Ross is ranked number 67 for popularity in the USA. |
Miscellaneous Ross Databases
Search the Ellis Island Database for information on the Ross family. This database contains over 25 million immigration records detailing passengers arriving in the United States of America.
Use the Surname Map project to look at the current distribution of the Ross surname in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Romania.
Some people with the surname Ross
Adrian Alastair Alec Alexander Alex Allan Andrew Anthony Archibald Arnold Arny Art Arthur Atticus Bertram Betsy Bill Blake Bobby Bob Brian Browning Buster Campbell Carlos Charles Charlie Chris Christopher Clarence Clark Claude Cody Colin Danny Dave David Davie Dayvon Demetrius Dennis Diana Donald Don Dorothy Doug Douglas Draylen Duane Duncan Earle Earnest Edgar Edward Ella Evan Frank Frederick Fred Freya Gary George Glenn Gordon Graham Harry Hedwig Henry Hercules Hew Hugh Hugo Ian Ida Isaac Ivy Jackie James Jami-lee Jason Jean Jeff Jennifer Jerilyn Jim John Jonathan Jonathon Jun Justin Kate Katharine Ken Kevin Kyla Laura Laurenne Lawrence Lee Leopoldina Lester Lewis Liliana Mackenzie Malcolm Margaret Marilina Marion Matthew Matt Maurice Michael Mike Murray Nathan Nellie Nicole Nikki Norman Percy Perley Phil Rektok Reuben Rick Robbie Robert Roderick Ronald Ronnie Sammy Samuel Scott Seamus Sevan Shane Shaun Sherry Sobieski Spencer Stephen Steve Stuart Tawl Ted Terrence Tessa Thomas Tommy Tony Tracee Vernon Walter Wilbur William Zola
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