Surname Roussard - Meaning and Origin
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Roussard: What does the surname Roussard mean?
The last name Roussard has several possible origins, and there is not a single, definite answer to the meaning of the surname.
It may have derived in the 14th or 15th century from the French word "Rousse" meaning red-haired or redhead. It may also be from the Old French word "Rous" meaning "red-haired" or "red-headed", or from an ancestral name.
Roussard may also be an occupational name for a redhead, describing someone who has a reddish or auburn complexion. People with this name likely belong to one of two distinct family lines: one from Normandy and one from the French city of Bordeaux. It was likely derived from the medieval term "Rousard," a word of uncertain origin meaning ruddy complexion. This might indicate a link to the Norse invaders who arrived in northern France in the 5th century and had red hair or fair complexions.
The last name Roussard can also come from the French word "Roussi," meaning to dawn or the ‘early morning’ sun. This could be used in reference to the color of the sun’s rays, which can be reddish or golden.
Regardless of the origin, the last name Roussard has been found in France for centuries and has likely become part of many families’ heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisRoussard: Where does the name Roussard come from?
The last name Roussard is most common in France, where it is the 60th most common surname. It is particularly concentrated in the rural areas of the western, central, and northern parts of the country. This region straddles the French provinces of Brittany and Lower Normandy in the northwest, and extending as far northeast as Picardy. It is also relatively common in the French Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique, where it gets the alternate spelling of Rousseau. Outside France, the surname is also prominent in smaller pockets of North America (especially Canada and the United States). It is especially common in the cities of New York City, Montreal, Boston, and Saint John in the eastern half of the continent, which likely trace their Roussard/Rousseau ancestry to the same region of France mentioned before. The presence of the surname in distant places such as South Africa, Indonesia, and the Philippines also suggest that it was adopted by French immigrants who chose to settle in those countries.
Variations of the surname Roussard
The surname Roussard is a French-derived version of the German name Rosshardt, or Rotzhart, which is derived from the Old High German word “hrodz-hart”, meaning “brave hard” or “strong within”. The surname is found in France, Canada, Switzerland, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and throughout the rest of the world.
Variants of the name Roussard include Roussel, Rousseau, Rousselet, Rousseleau, Roesset, Rossard, Rosset, Rossier, Rossiero, Rossetti, Roselet, Roselli, Roussardin, Roussaud, Rousset, Roussette, Rozo, and Russo.
The surname Roussard is spelled in a variety of different ways in different countries, including Roussard, Roussardy, Rossard, Roosard, Rouzard, Ruzard, and Rwosard. This name is most common in France, where it is found as Roussard, Rousseau, and Rousset. However, it is also found in other French-speaking countries such as Canada, Switzerland, and Belgium.
Spelling variations of the surname outside of France may also include Rouzard, Roussaud, Roussette, Rossard, Roussardy, Rossery, Rossardin, and Rossetti.
Surnames with the same origin and spelling as Roussard that are found throughout the rest of the world include Roselet, Rousselet, Roselli, Russo, and Rozo. These surnames are most common in countries such as the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
In conclusion, the surname Roussard has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin that have been found in France, Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, and countries around the world.
Famous people with the name Roussard
- Mila Roussard: French model and fashion icon
- Simone Roussard: French actress and model
- Alex Roussard: French professional footballer
- Jean-Claude Roussard: French actor and director
- Philippe Roussard: French experimental artist and sculptor
- Bernard Roussard: French journalist, theatre director, and producer
- Alice Roussard: French writer and journalist
- Lucas Roussard: French director of photography
- Christian Roussard: French individualist anarchism activist, poet, and artist
- Jean-Claude Roussard: French cyclist, most famously competing in the Tour de France