Surname Rousos - Meaning and Origin
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Rousos: What does the surname Rousos mean?
The surname Rousos originates from Greece and is derived from the Greek word "russo," meaning "red." It was often given to people with red hair or a ruddy complexion, or alternatively, to someone who wore lots of red or lived in a house built from red bricks. Like many surnames, it began as a nickname or descriptive term that eventually evolved into a family name. Frequently, these sorts of surnames would become hereditary, passing from father to son, and over time disconnecting from their original meaning as people who didn't fit the descriptive term would bear the name. Over the centuries, the spelling and pronunciation of these names may have changed, leading to various interpretations and versions of the same original name, Rousos being one of them. So the last name Rousos may indicate a distant ancestor who had red hair, a ruddy complexion, or wore red or lived in a red house.
Order DNA origin analysisRousos: Where does the name Rousos come from?
The last name Rousos is most commonly found among families coming from Greece and Cyprus. The root of the name comes from the Greek language and is said to be derived from the word for “red”. It is likely that this last name became popular due to its association with the red heads that were common in the area.
Today, the last name Rousos is prevalent in both Greece and Cyprus, and it is also observed amongst Greek diaspora populations that have spread out throughout Europe and beyond. It is likely that the last name is still found among some families in the United States, Canada and Australia, as many people of Greek and Cypriot origin have departed their homelands and settled in these new countries.
In Greece, the last name Rousos is well known particularly in the northern region of Macedonia. It is also found among families in other Greek regions, such as Crete, Thessaly, and around Athens. In Cyprus, it is particularly common around Nicosia, the capital.
In addition to the Greek language, Rousos can be seen written as Roufos or Roumpos, particularly in older, hand-written documents, and these variations are still current today. It is also common to find variants of the name, such as Roussos, that have been adapted following migration to other countries.
Variations of the surname Rousos
The surname Rousos has multiple variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant spelling is the French form, Rousseau. Other variant spellings of the surname Rousos include Ruso, Roos, Rousse, Roux, Roussel, and Russo.
The surname Rousseau is said to have derived from an old French nickname for a man with reddish hair, from the Old French term "rous," meaning red. As such, the surname Rousseau is believed to have originated from French-speaking regions of the world, such as France, Canada, and some parts of the United States.
A notable person with the surname Rousos is American drummer Bobby Rousso. Bobby is a session and touring musician who has performed with many different bands and artists like Guns N' Roses, Cher, Van Halen, and Rod Stewart.
Other surnames of possible Greek origin include Roussos, Rozos, and Roussakis. These are believed to have originated around the Greek island of Kythnos, where the last name Rousos first gained prominence.
Aside from Greek and French origins, the surname Rousos also has its roots in Italian and Spanish surnames, such as Roz, Russo, and Rosso. In some cases, these could be derived from the place of origin in Italy, such as the city of Rozzano.
All of the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Rousos epitomize the global reach of the surname and its various cultural roots.
Famous people with the name Rousos
- Demis Roussos: Greek singer and musician active from the 1960s to the 2000s.
- Petros Roussos: Greek professional soccer player.
- Georgia Roussos: Greek fashion designer and entrepreneur.
- Steve Roussos: Greek-American movie producer and television executive.
- John Roussos: Greek-American entrepreneur and venture capitalist.
- Anthony Roussos: Greek-American real estate developer, investor, and philanthropist.
- Talos Roussos: Greek-American entrepreneur, investor, and venture capitalist.
- Efthimis Roussos: Greek-American CEO and philanthropist.
- Margaret Roussos: Greek-American author and entrepreneur.
- Nikolaos Roussos: Greek-American choreographer, composer, and performing artist.
- Grigoris Roussos: Greek-American architect and urban planner.
- Stavros Roussos: Greek-American politician.
- Spyros Roussos: Greek-American painter and sculptor.
- Eleni Roussos: Greek-American Visual Artist and sculturist.
- Titos Roussos: Greek banker.
- Karen Roussos: Greek-American attorney and businesswoman.
- Alexandra Roussos: Greek-American noted singer and actress.
- Konstantinos Roussos: Greek-American architect.
- George Roussos Jr.: Greek-American real estate developer.
- Dimitrios Roussos: Greek musician, composer, and music producer.