A surname of Scottish origin, also referring to a promontory or headland in Scottish geography.
From Scottish Gaelic 'ros' meaning 'headland, promontory, or peninsula'. Originally a topographic name for someone who lived on or near a promontory, later becoming a hereditary surname.
The name Ross perfectly demonstrates how geography becomes identity - countless Scottish families took their name from the dramatic headlands where they lived. It's also the shortest surname that contains a double consonant in English.
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