Ross

See also: ross and Roß

English

English Wikipedia has an article on:

Ross

Wikipedia

As a Scottish surname, from several places such as Roose in Cumbria or Roos in Yorkshire, both from Scottish Gaelic ros (“promontory”) or a Brythonic parallel of its source such as Welsh rhos (“moor, heath”). There were also several Norman families in Scotland who took their name from Rots in Calvados. Compare Rose, Rhodes.
As an English surname, from Wrose in Shipley, with loss of initial w.
As an English and German surname, from derivatives of the old Germanic root common in names *hrōþi (“fame”). Compare Rossell.
As a Cornish surname, from several places in Cornwall deriving from ros (“heathland”), related to the above Celtic word meaning "heath" or "promontory." See Rouse.
As a Jewish and German occupational surname for a breeder of horses, from the regional/poetic noun Ross (“horse”).
Also as a Jewish surname, Americanized from Rose.

Ross

An English and Scottish habitational surname from Scottish Gaelic derived from any of several places of that name, from Scottish Gaelic ros (“headland”).
A male given name transferred from the surname, of early 19th century and later usage.
A number of places in the United States:
1. A town in Marin County, California.
2. A city and village in North Dakota.
3. A census-designated place in Ohio.
4. A city and town in Texas.
5. A town in Wisconsin.
6. A number of townships in the United States, listed under Ross Township.
A small town in New Zealand on the West Coast of the South Island.

^ Hanks, Patrick, editor (2003), “Ross”, in Dictionary of American Family Names, volume 3, New York City: Oxford University Press, →ISBN.

From Middle High German ros (“horse”), from Old High German ros, hros (“horse”), from Proto-West Germanic *hross (“horse”).

Ross n

Abegg, Emil, (1911) Die Mundart von Urseren (Beiträge zur Schweizerdeutschen Grammatik. IV.) , Frauenfeld, Switzerland: Huber & Co.

Ross n (strong, genitive Rosses, plural Rosse or Rösser, diminutive Rösschen n or Rösslein n or Rösserl n or Rössal n or Rössel n)

Ross is a normal word for “horse”, alongside Pferd, in many parts of southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In northern and central Germany, Ross is not part of the colloquial vocabulary and is perceived as poetic, archaic, or restricted to noble riding horses.
The plurals Rosse and Rösser are equally acceptable and roughly equally common, though the former is traditionally preferred in written standard German.

Declension of Ross