Rooth History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Rooth

What does the name Rooth mean?

Soon after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, the name Rooth was recognized on the island as a name for a happy or cheerful person. The surname Rooth was originally derived from the Old English word rot, which meant glad or pleased.

Early Origins of the Rooth family

The surname Rooth was first found in Kent where they held a family seat from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Rooth family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rooth research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1086 is included under the topic Early Rooth History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rooth Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Root, Rouet, Rout, Roots, Roote, Rootes and others.

Early Notables of the Rooth family

More information is included under the topic Early Rooth Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rooth migration to the United States +

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Rooth or a variant listed above:

Rooth Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Anna Rooth, aged 23, who landed in America from Bremen, in 1901
Georges Rooth, aged 37, who landed in America from Paris, in 1904
Ellen Rooth, aged 30, who settled in America from Cappamore, in 1905

Rooth migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rooth Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

George Rooth, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749

Contemporary Notables of the name Rooth (post 1700) +

Dr James Augustus Rooth (1868-1962), British colonel of the Royal Army Medical Corps
Ivar Rooth (1888-1972), International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s second Managing Director and Chairman of the Executive Board
Maria Rooth (b. 1979), Swedish ice hockey player