Surname Roe - Meaning and Origin
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Unraveling Self-Identity through DNA: Insights into the Roe Lineage
Embracing an iGENEA DNA test, I partook in a self-discovery journey that shed new light on my ancestral roots, particularly the Roe lineage. Unveiling unexpected insights, the test shaped my perception of selfhood by revealing my lineage's rich history.
D. Roe
read moreRoe: What does the surname Roe mean?
The surname Roe is of English origin and has multiple potential meanings. In some cases, it may derive from the Middle English word "roe" or "roa", meaning a Roe deer, so it might have originally been a nickname for someone thought to resemble a deer. It could also be a topographic name for someone living in a place thickly grown with reed, derived from the Old English word "ra". Additionally, it could originate from the Norse name Hroa, a variant of Hroarr, an Old Norse byname. It may also have been an occupational surname for a fisherman, deriving from the word "roe" meaning fish eggs. Finally, it may refer to a person from the town of La Roe in France. Overall, while its precise origins may be unclear due to its multiple possible meanings, it typically refers to a person's characteristics, occupation, or geographical location.
Order DNA origin analysisRoe: Where does the name Roe come from?
The last name Roe is still most commonly found in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States. In the US, the name is especially common in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio and Minnesota.
In the UK, Roe is most prevalent in Evening Standard and Irish census records. Roe is ranked as the 282nd most common surname in England and Wales, with an estimated 8383 bearer households in Great Britain. London has the highest occurrence of Roe households in England, with a total of 70.
In Ireland, Roe is ranked as the 231st most common surname, with an estimated 1554 households that have the name. In Northern Ireland, the name is most common in Belfast and the surrounding area.
The roe surname can also be found in other countries, including Canada, Australia, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Today, many people with the last name Roe may be descendants of the original immigrants who settled in the British Isles during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. However, other descendants of the name are likely from more recent immigrants who adopted the name to better assimilate in their new country.
Variations of the surname Roe
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Roe are Row, Rowe, Ro, Roa, Roache, Roan, Roane, Roat, Roath, Robe, Robeau, Robé, Robec, Robes, Robey, Roehrig, Roen, Rog, Roehl, Roenick, Roet, Roeth, Roethle, Roetsch, Rolfe, Rolfes, Rolfs, Rolls, Rows, Rowse, Roy, Roye, Royes, Roys, Ruy, Ruye, Rye, and Ryne.
The origin of the surname Roe goes back to the concept of ‘roe’ meaning red, which was commonly used within family names of Western Europe. Variants of ‘roe’ would typically take on various regional spellings - such as Ro, Roe, Roa, Roan, Row, or Rowe - which then developed into surnames. For example, the Row surname of Western England origin originally derived from the Old English ‘hou’, meaning ‘row of houses or village’, as well as other place names such as Roehrig, Roen, Roet, or Roethle.
The Irish Roe family, meanwhile, are descendants of the ancient Gaelic tribe of Ui Faelain, who migrated from Wales to Lesleslie in Meath. Other Irish variants of Roe include Robes, Robe, Roach, or Roan. In the German language, meanwhile, the surname Roe developed from the given name Rudolf, and two main branches of this surname developed. The first of these is the Rolfe family, and other variants of this branch include Rolfs, Rolfes, Rolls, and Roy donations. The second German branch of Roe is the Ryne branch, which has taken on various spellings such as Rye, Ruy, Ruye, Roy, Roye, Roys, and Roydon.
Famous people with the name Roe
- Roe McDermott: Irish journalist, broadcaster and podcast host
- Walter Roe: English former footballer
- Jeanette Lee: American professional pool player, also known as the “Black Widow”
- Amanda Roe: British singer-songwriter
- Kieran Roe: American politician and state representative
- Colonel Sandy Roe: Australian decorated military officer
- Richard Roe: Canadian hockey player
- Virginia Roe: British actress
- Mindy Roe: American softball pitcher
- Dustin Roe: American ice hockey player
- David Roe: English darts player
- John Roe: British professional golfer
- Robert Roe: Irish Taoiseach (prime minister)
- Mark Roe: English former cricketer
- Charles Roe: English pioneer of canal engineering
- Susannah Roe: British businesswoman
- Sir Thomas Roe: English diplomat
- Peter Roe: English professional darts player
- William Henry Roe: United States submarine commander
- Caroline Roe: British actress