Map of England showing where the Roscoe arms are recorded
The Roscoe arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Roscoe arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Roscoe Family in England
The surname Roscoe is rooted in the landscape of Northern England, specifically within the historic county of Lancashire. The name is derived from the Old Norse words "raa," meaning roe deer, and "skogr," meaning wood or forest. This suggests that the earliest people to carry the name likely lived near a wooded area frequented by deer. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Roscoe family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, the family was part of the growing urban population in a city that served as a vital hub for trade and administration in the north. As the centuries passed, the family name spread from these northern origins, reflecting the movement and development of families across the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Rauðr skógr
Old Norse for red forest
This name
RoscoeDerived from a place name referring to a deer park or woodland clearing.
also spelled
Roskow
Roskell
Related arms
Roscowvariant spelling
Roskellvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cinquefoilHope and joy
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cinquefoilHope and joy
