Surname Roston - Meaning and Origin

Roston: What does the surname Roston mean?

The surname Roston is of English origin but the exact meaning of the name is unclear as it is not a common name and is not widely studied. It may be a variant of "Royston", a locational surname named after a town in Hertfordshire, England. Royston derives from 'Royse’s town', Royse being an old personal name of Norman origin. However, without more specific information or genealogical research, it is difficult to establish the definite meaning or origin of the surname Roston. Like many surnames, its meaning may also have been lost or changed over time due to linguistic evolutions, migrations, and assimilation processes. Surnames are not always strictly denotational, and they often serve to indicate familial, vocational or geographical associations of the persons bearing them rather than carrying a specific standalone meaning.

Roston: Where does the name Roston come from?

The last name Roston is believed to have originated in Germany, though may have originated in other parts of Europe. This is supported by its prominence in countries with Germanic influence, such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and those with a considerable German population, such as Brazil, Argentina and Chile.

In the United States, Roston is a rare last name, found in only 0.001% of the population, according to the US Census Bureau in the year 2000. The highest proportion of individuals with the name was recorded in the state of Ohio (0.002%), with the southern states of Kentucky and Tennessee also showing high concentrations.

In Canada, recent findings recorded by Statistics Canada from 1996 to 2016 places Roston as the 8,076th most common surname in the country. In the 2016 Census, the highest concentration of this name was in the province of Ontario (0.001%).

In other countries, the surname Roston is found predominantly in areas with a substantial German population. In Brazil, studies have placed the name as one of the most common surnames of German origin in the country, with it being noted particularly in the southern states such as Santa Catarina and Paraná. The same is seen in Argentina, with the provinces of Buenos Aires and Misiones showing the highest concentrations of people carrying the surname.

Overall, the last name Roston appears to be a relatively uncommon one in today’s society, but is likely to be found most often in countries with Germanic influence or those with a significant German population.

Variations of the surname Roston

The surname Roston is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name 'Mac an Rosstate', which is derived from the Scottish word 'ros' meaning 'a promontory'. The earliest record of this surname dates back to 1347, when Robertus de Rosstoune appeared in Scotland's Ragman Rolls.

Variants of Roston include: Rawson, Rauxon, Raws, Ruchon, Ruxton, Rowedson, Rousson, Rousstun, Rouseon, Rouson, Rousone, Rowe, Rowson, Rowtun, Rostonn, Rowstun, Roustone, Roustoun, Roiston, Royston, and Ruston.

Variations of Roston, depending on the language spoken, include: Rosson, Rosston, Rostoun, Rostown and Rosstown.

Roston is a relatively rare surname around the world, but it is particularly common in Scotland and Ireland, where it has numerous variants. In Scotland, the variant forms include Rawson, Rauxon, Raws, Ruchon, Ruxton, Rowedson, Rousson, Rousstun, Rouseon, Rouson, Rousone, Rowe, Rowson, Rowtun, Rostonn, Rowstun, Roustone, Roustoun, Roiston, Royston, and Ruston. In Ireland, variants include Ruskon, Roscun, Ruskin, Ruscoe, Rushin, Roisin, Roslin, Rossim, Rosin, Ruchan, Roscon, and in Ulster the form Rowe.

The Roston surname is also found in other parts of the English-speaking world, such as the United States, Australia, and Canada. Variants in these countries include: Rawson, Rouseon, Roson, and Rouson.

Famous people with the name Roston

• Adrienne Roston: Award-winning vocalist and gospel music director
• Alex Roston: Brazilian artist based in the United States
• Charles Roston: British sculptor and printmaker
• Danny Roston: English football manager and player
• Frank Roston: American baseball player
• Jacob Roston: Award-winning Jazz composer and pianist
• Jerry Roston: American standup comedian and actor
• Jonathan Roston: British PR and marketing consultant
• Julian Roston: American composer, pianist and vocalist
• Mark Roston: Award-winning sound designer and composer
• Micheal Roston: British filmmaker and journalist
• Oliver Roston: American-born, French-based fashion designer
• Robert Roston: American film and television director
• Sam Roston: British entrepreneur and investor
• Saul Roston: Award-winning British visual artist
• Steve Roston: American film producer
• Theodore Roston: English biographer, journalist and film director

Other surnames

Rostock