# Ross

> English word · Proper noun · IPA /ɹɔs/ · frequency rank #3,722

## Definitions
1. An English and Scottish habitational surname from Scottish Gaelic derived from any of several places of that name, from Scottish Gaelic ros (“headland”).
2. A male given name transferred from the surname, of early 19th century and later usage.
3. A number of places in the United States:
4. A number of places in the United States:
5. A number of places in the United States:
6. A number of places in the United States:
7. A number of places in the United States:
8. A number of places in the United States:
9. A number of places in the United States:
10. A number of places in the United States:
11. A number of places in the United States:
12. A number of places in the United States:
13. A number of places in the United States:
14. A hamlet in Middleton parish, Northumberland, England (OS grid ref NU1336).
15. A coastal hamlet south of Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway council area, Scotland (OS grid ref NX6444).
16. A coastal locality near Burnmouth, Scottish Borders council area, Scotland (OS grid ref NT9660).
17. A village in Northern Midlands council area, Tasmania, Australia.
18. A small town in the West Coast region, South Island, New Zealand.

## Etymology
* 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”). Doublet of horse.
* Also as a Jewish surname, Americanized from Rose.

## Easily confused with
- **RS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ross-vs-rs)
- **row** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ross-vs-row)
- **Roy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ross-vs-roy)
- **rot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ross-vs-rot)
- **RSS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ross-vs-rss)
- **RSA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ross-vs-rsa)
- **Rus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ross-vs-rus)
- **RSI** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ross-vs-rsi)
- **RSL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ross-vs-rsl)
- **runs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ross-vs-runs)
- **rush** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ross-vs-rush)
- **rows** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ross-vs-rows)
- **rust** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ross-vs-rust)
- **Russ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ross-vs-russ)
- **Roth** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ross-vs-roth)
- **Rowe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ross-vs-rowe)
- **rosy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ross-vs-rosy)
- **Roxy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ross-vs-roxy)
- **ruse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ross-vs-ruse)
- **rout** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ross-vs-rout)

## Common misspellings (3)
`orss`, `rross`, `rsos`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/ross