Surname Rounseman - Meaning and Origin
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Rounseman: What does the surname Rounseman mean?
The last name Rounseman is of English origin and likely developed from the Middle English personal name Rounse. This name was derived from the Old French word “ronce,” meaning “thorn,” and would likely have been applied to a person who lived or worked near a dense thicket of thorns. It could also have been used as a nickname for an individual who was small and wiry.
Alternately, the surname Rounseman may have referred to a worker of some kind, likely a woodcutter or sorter of wood. It was common practice at the time for surnames to be derived from a person’s occupation, and this may be the origin of the name Rounseman.
Surnames such as Rounseman were also used to identify members of the same family, as well as determining inheritance and lineage. When a family took on a surname such as Rounseman, its members would be related in some way and could be traced back to a single ancestor.
The name Rounseman can be found in records dating back to the 1600s. Early formulation of the name, including Ronsman and Rounsman, can be found in certain cities in England, such as Yorkshire and London. The name would then spread across the British Isles, before immigrants brought it to North America. Today, the name Rounseman can be found all over the world.
Order DNA origin analysisRounseman: Where does the name Rounseman come from?
The last name Rounseman is most common in the United States today. According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2020 there were an estimated 8,632 people with the Rounseman surname living in the United States.
The overwhelming majority of these individuals are of German descent; family history research indicates the surname likely originated in the German region of Saxony. In fact, the surname is still quite common in certain parts of Saxony, especially in the east, due to the prevalence of various spellings.
In the United States, the surname is most commonly found in a handful of midwestern states, particularly in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. Other states where one might encounter the Rounseman surname include Idaho, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.
People with the Rounseman surname can trace their family history to numerous places in the United States. For instance, many of the earliest known individuals bearing the surname have roots in Philadelphia and western New York. In the mid-1800s, some Rounsemans migrated to Illinois and the Midwest. With the migration, the name has become increasingly more widespread.
Tracing the history of the Rounseman surname can lead to a rather unique family tree- one that includes individuals from German and British backgrounds, as well as some of the first German settlers to the United States. No matter where one might find the Rounseman surname today, it will always have a unique and interesting history that speaks to the early American melting pot.
Variations of the surname Rounseman
The surname Rounseman is of English origin and can be found in various spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin. These include Ronseman, Rounsman, Ransman, Ransome, Ransoom, Raunceman, and Rawnsom.
Ronseman, is the most common spelling with early occurrences of the name. The earliest occurrence of this spelling was found in the 12th-century Pipe Rolls of Surrey, England. It is believed that this spelling initially arose as a variant of the surname Rauneis, which was itself a variation of the Old English name Reginald.
Rounsman is another variant of the surname. It is also believed that this variation originally came from the name Reginald. However, the spelling differs slightly by having the addition of the letter ‘s’. This spelling was first recorded in the 13th-century Documents of Salisbury Cathedral in Wiltshire, England.
The surnames Ransman and Ransome both evolved from the surname Reynold. This was a Middle English form of Reginald and was initially recorded in the 12th-century Pipe Rolls of Bedfordshire, England. Ransman, however, has since evolved further to become the surname Ransom. Ransom is believed to be an altered spelling of the old Flemish name Rouncemane, which was itself a variant of the surname Reynold.
The surname Raunceman is another variant of the surname Ronseman. It is believed to have first appeared in the 14th-century Feet of Fines for Kent County, England. It is believed to be an altered spelling of the Old English name Reginald.
Finally, the surname Rawnsom has also evolved from Reynold. This spelling was first recorded in the 11th-century Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire, England. It is believed to have been a variant of the Old Norse name Raungr, which was itself a variant of the Old English name Reginald.
Overall, while the surname Rounseman is relatively uncommon, there are several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These variants and spellings include Ronseman, Rounsman, Ransman, Ransome, Ransoom, Raunchman, and Rawnsom. All of these surnames are derived from the Old English name Reginald and have evolved over time.
Famous people with the name Rounseman
- Aaron Rounsevell: an American basketball player who attended Westminster High School in Atlanta.
- Barbara Rounsevell: an American film and television actress.
- Chase Rounsevell: an American actor and singer.
- Jack Rounsevell: a British actor who was a regular on the medical drama Casualty.
- Jacob Rounseman: an American football player who was a tight end for the Detroit Lions.
- Julie Rounseman: a British former figure skater who competed in the 1976, 1980 and 1984 Winter Olympics.
- Marla Rounseman: an American professional wrestler.
- Meghan Rounsevelle: American singer-songwriter and musician.
- Robert Rounseville: an American actor, singer and choreographer best known for originating roles in musicals including West Side Story and The Pajama Game.
- Will Rounsevell: Australian Paralympic swimmer with a vision impairment.