Scottish Family Names R
RAMSAY
NAME ON MAP: RAMSAY OLD COUNTY: Midlothian DATE: 1342 MEANING: the name comes from Ramsey in Huntingdonshire, England and derives from OLD ENGLISH hramsa `wild garlic' eg `island'. Simund de Ramesie witnessed a charter in Scotland in c.1153‑75, William de Rammeseye rendered homage in 1296 and Sir Alexander Ramsay of Dalhousie was starved to death by Sir William Douglas at Hermitage Castle in 1342.
RATTRAY
NAME ON MAP: see under place‑names. HISTORY: GOIDELIC rath `hill fort' tref `dwelling'. Sir Thomas de Rettre was involved in a dispute with the abbot of Arbroath in 1253.
ROBERTSON
NAME ON MAP: CLAN DONNACHAIDH (in GAELIC ) OLD COUNTY: Perth MEANING: NORMAN‑FRENCH (originally GERMANIC ) Robert `fame bright'. The clan takes its name from Robert Riabhach or Grizzled Robert, chief of Clan Duncan, who sprang to fame in 1451 by bringing to justice the murderers of James I. This feat is commemorated in the clan's crest badge of a hand holding a crown aloft. The map shows the original clan name. See the entry for Duncan.
ROLLO
NAME ON MAP: ROLLO OLD COUNTY: Perth (inset map) DATE: 1382 MEANING: a diminutive form of the OLD GERMAN name Hrodulf derived from hrothi `fame' and vulf `wolf'; the forms Rolf and Rudolf are perhaps more familiar. A John Rollo was recorded in Perthshire in 1382 and it is probable that the family was established there somewhat earlier.
ROSE
NAME ON MAP: ROS OLD COUNTY: Nairn DATE: 1280 MEANING: one tradition traces the name from Ros in Normandy. It was brought to England by a follower of Odo, Bishop of Bayeux in 1066. Descendants later moved to Scotland where a Hugh de Ros is recorded in Nairn in the 1280s. It is just as probable, however, that the name has the same origin as Ross.
ROSS
NAMES ON MAP: RÓS and CLANN ANDRIAS (in GAELIC ) OLD COUNTY: Ross and Cromarty MEANING: a territorial name from the old province of Ross: BRYTHONIC ros `a moor' or GOIDELIC ros `a headland'. Traditionally the clan descends from Fearchar Mac an‑t‑sagairt `son of a priest' of Applecross, who supported Alexander II (1214‑49) and was created Earl of Ross in c.1234. His grandson, William, fought for Bruce at Bannockburn.
RUTHVEN
NAME ON MAP: ROTHEUEN OLD COUNTIES: Perth and Angus (inset map) DATE: 1284 MEANING: a territorial name from the barony in Angus; probably GOIDELIC ruadh bheinn `red mountain'. The family descends from Swan, son of Thor, son of Swein in the 12th century. Walter de Rotheuen, the first to use the name, witnessed a charter in 1244.