The Scottish family name Ross is classified as being of habitation origin. The phrase "habitation names" is used to describe those family names which find their origins in the location of the residence of the initial bearer. In some instances, such names are derived from the name of the town or region where the original bearer was born or resided. Others refer to the geographic location of the original bearer's home while still others may refer to a sign displayed over the door of his residence. With regard to the family name Ross, it indicates "one who came from Ross or Ross-shire", the name of a Scottish county which is today called Ross and Cromarty. The county of Ross and Cromarty is located in northern Scotland between the countys of Sutherland, on the north, and Inverness, on the south. This is a mountainous country with many lochs and the remains of ancient forests, mainly birch and oak, which were once extensive. This region was inhabited at an early date as can be seen from the cairns, forts and ancient castle found here. During the Roman occupation of Great Britain, Gaelic Picts occupied this region who were converted to Christianity in the sixth century by St. Columba. In the Middle Ages, most of the territory which is today county of Ross and Cromarty belonged to the Earl of Ross.
One of the earliest references to this name, or to a variant, is a record of Sir Godfrey de Rose, Arthur de Rose, and Fergus de Ross who witnessed a charter in 1205. However, research is ongoing and this name may have been documented even earlier than the date indicated above. Alexander Ross of Balnagown, Master William Ross and William Ross were killed in the battle of Aldecharwis in 1468; and Fanella Ross, daughter of Alexander Ross and Jean Gillan, was baptized in Forres, Moray, in 1852.

Source: The Historical Research Center

Descendants of Donald ROSS

FIRST GENERATION

1.  Donald ROSS was born about 1760? in Scotland.  Donald was a Loyalist and granted land in Guysborough, 
Nova Scotia in 1783.  He died abt 1843 in Guysborough, Nova Scotia.
His wife, Ann MORRIS (daughter of Richard and Bridget MORRIS) was born about 1765? in 
Nova Scotia, Canada.  She died on 17 Oct 1813 in Guysborough, Nova Scotia, Canada.  
Donald ROSS and Ann MORRIS had the following children, all born in Guysborough, Nova Scotia, Canada:

	+2	i.	Margaret ROSS.
	+3	ii.	Richard ROSS.
	+4	iii.	Ann ROSS.
	+5	iv.	Elsie ROSS.
	+6	v.	Bridget Jane ROSS.
	+7	vi.	Isabella ROSS.
	+8	vii.	Mary ROSS.
	+9	viii.	Sarah Mehitabel ROSS.
	+10	ix.	Hugh ROSS.
	+11	x.	John ROSS.
	+12	xi.	George ROSS.

SECOND GENERATION

2.  Margaret ROSS was born on 27 Sep 1794.
She was married to Henry MORGAN on 27 Jan 1817.

3.  Richard ROSS was born on 1 Dec 1795.
He was married to Catherine BEARS on 4 Feb 1833.  Richard ROSS and Catherine BEARS had the 
following children:

	+13	i.	Donald Joseph ROSS.
	+14	ii.	Caroline Lucina ROSS.
	+15	iii.	Esther Ann ROSS.
	+16	iv.	Sarah Catherine ROSS.
	17	v.	Richard ROSS was born on 10 May 1850.

4.  Ann ROSS was born on 3 May 1800.
She was married to Thomas Godfrey HART on 15 Feb 1825.

5.  Elsie ROSS was born on 3 May 1802.
She was married to I.A. WHITMAN on 12 Feb 1828.

6.  Bridget Jane ROSS was born on 20 May 1807.
She was married to Charles MYERS on 18 Feb 1833.

7.  Isabella ROSS was born on 16 Mar 1809.
She was married to Jairus HART on 22 Jul 1834.

8.  Mary ROSS was born on 6 Sep 1811.
She was married to John William Peart HART on 1 Dec 1836.

9.  Sarah Mehitabel ROSS.  
She was married to Charles Edward MORGAN on 3 Feb 1851.

10.  Hugh ROSS.  
He was married to Isabel MACKENZIE on 25 Apr 1826.

11.  John ROSS.  
He was married to Elizabeth Sarah BEARS (daughter of George BEARS and Sarah Anora NICKERSON) 
 on 6 Mar 1827.  Elizabeth Sarah BEARS was born on 27 Mar 1810 in New Harbor, Nova Scotia, Canada. 
 John ROSS and Elizabeth Sarah BEARS had the following children:

	18	i.	George ROSS was born on 4 Feb 1832.
	19	ii.	Ann Isabella ROSS was born on 28 Mar 1834.
	+20	iii.	John Henry ROSS.
	21	iv.	Elizabeth Jane ROSS was born on 30 Sep 1838.
	22	v.	Richard ROSS was born on 29 Aug 1840.
	23	vi.	Catherine ROSS was born on 1 Jun 1844.
	24	vii.	William Smith ROSS was baptized on 8 Oct 1844.
	25	viii.	Caleb James ROSS was baptized on 9 Aug 1846.
	26	ix.	Mary Amelia ROSS was born on 1 Mar 1851.

12.  George ROSS.  
 George ROSS and Mary Ann had the following children:

	27	i.	Richard James ROSS was born on 31 May 1840.


THIRD GENERATION

13.  Donald Joseph ROSS was born on 13 Dec 1833.
He was married to Susanna EHLER on 30 Apr 1857.

14.  Caroline Lucina ROSS was born on 24 Aug 1837.
She was married to James William FERGUSON on 27 Mar 1860.

15.  Esther Ann ROSS was born on 15 Jun 1839.
She was married to William W. SIMPSON in 1865.

16.  Sarah Catherine ROSS was born on 23 Jul 1844.

20.  John Henry ROSS was born on 26 May 1836 in Guysborough, Nova Scotia, Canada.  He died on 11 May 1913
 in Reinbeck, Grundy, Iowa.  He was married to Hester Ann ROBERTS (daughter of Jacob F. Roberts 
and Fanny Jane Swartz) on 12 Dec 1861 in Rock Island Co, Illinois.  
Hester Ann ROBERTS was born on 12 Dec 1844 in Terre Heute, Henderson, Indiana. She died on 7 Apr 1912 in 
Grinnell, Poweshiek, Iowa. 
John Henry ROSS and Hester Ann ROBERTS had the following children:

	+28	i.	Jane Elizabeth ROSS.
	+29	ii.	George McClellan ROSS.
	+30	iii.	Maryetta ROSS.
	+31	iv.	Julia Anne ROSS.
	+32	v.	Ida Lee ROSS.
	33	vi.	William Henry ROSS was born on 13 Feb 1874.  He died on 28 Jan 1887.
	+34	vii.	Charles Monroe ROSS.

FOURTH GENERATION

28.  Jane Elizabeth ROSS was born on 27 Dec 1862.  She died on 9 Dec 1933.
She was married to John William BROWN on 14 Jan 1885.  Jane Elizabeth ROSS and John William BROWN 
had the following children:

	35	i.	Everet Lester BROWN was born on 25 Aug 1889.  He died on 19 May 1896.

29.  George McClellan ROSS was born on 31 Jul 1864 in Andalusia, Rock Island, Illinois.  He died on __*_ .
He was married to Sarah E. GOODE on 21 Mar 1889.  Sarah E. GOODE (daughter of Samuel Goode and Frances 
Irons of Coventry, Warwickshire, England) was born on 14 Apr 1868 in Reynolds, Illinois.  She died on __*__.  
George McClellan ROSS and Sarah E. GOODE had the following children:

	+36	i.	Elbert William ROSS.
	+37	ii.	Jesse D ROSS.
	+38	iii.	Lloyd LaVerne ROSS.
	+39	iv.	Dorothy ROSS.
	40	v.	baby ROSS was born on 16 Sep 1903.  He died on 16 Sep 1903.

30.  Maryetta ROSS was born on 10 Apr 1866.  She died on 26 May 1925.
She was married to Christain YEAROUS on 16 Dec 1891.  Christain YEAROUS was born on 14 Apr 1860. 
 He died on 26 May 1925.

31.  Julia Anne ROSS was born on 2 Sep 1869.

She was married to Charles Bennet AGY on 5 Sep 1898.  Charles Bennet AGY was born on 11 Nov 1869.  
He died on 21 Apr 1915.

32.  Ida Lee ROSS was born on 5 Feb 1872.
She was married to John Franklin SHAFFER on 10 Apr 1901.  John Franklin SHAFFER was born on 3 Jan 1868.

34.  Charles Monroe ROSS was born on 13 Feb 1876.  He died on 20 Aug 1948.
He was married to Lucille ESSEX on 2 Mar 1910.  Lucille ESSEX was born on 11 May 1890.  She died on
 2 Jul 1937.


FIFTH GENERATION

36.  Elbert William ROSS was born on 1 Jul 1893 in Grinnell, Poweshiek, Iowa.  He died on __*__. 
He was married to Marion Dell BROOKS (daughter of Fred Hartley BROOKS and Iris Emaline WOHLFORD)
 on 10 Apr 1920 in Hampton, Franklin, Iowa.  Marion Dell BROOKS was born on 4 May 1896 
in Hampton, Franklin, Iowa.  She was baptized on 7 May 1899 in Hampton, Franklin, Iowa.  She died on __*__.  
Elbert William ROSS and Marion Dell BROOKS had the following children:

	+41	i.	Jane Anne ROSS. __*__.

37.  Jesse D ROSS was born on 19 Sep 1894 in Grinnell, Poweshiek, Iowa.  He died on __*__.

38.  Lloyd LaVerne ROSS was born on 3 Mar 1899 in Grinnell, Poweshiek, Iowa.  He died on __*__.

39.  Dorothy ROSS was born on 30 May 1902 in Grinnell, Poweshiek, Iowa.  She died on __*__.
She was married to Earl GRIMSBY on 14 Apr 1928.  Dorthy ROSS and Earl GRIMSBY had the
 following children:

	42	i.	Warren GRIMSBY 
	43	ii.	David GRIMSBY 


__*__ = Private Information.