Surname Roantree - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'R'
Roantree: What does the surname Roantree mean?
The last name Roantree is a locational surname, originating from a place-name. It is thought to have originated in West Yorkshire, England, deriving from the Old English words 'hrone' and 'treow', meaning 'a single tree surrounded by a clearing'. It is believed to have been the name of an area of land occupied by a lone, large tree.
It is possible that the word 'hrone' has its roots in the Norman word 'rohan', meaning 'horse', and this may suggest the tree was the meeting point of a riding trail or horse crop. It may also be derived from an Old Norse word meaning 'wagon' or 'chariot', suggesting a place where these vehicles rested or were stored.
The first known record of this surname was in 1220 AD, when a Norman nobleman named William Rotre held an area of land in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Artefacts of the same name and spelling were also found in documents from the 14th century, with the names of William Rotre and Thomas Rotre appearing in the Subsidy Roll of Yorkshire in 1379.
The last name Roantree is chiefly found in England, where it was mainly used in the West Yorkshire area, but is also known to be found in certain parts of Scotland and Ireland. In present times, the last name is mainly used as a family name, and some famous people with this name include Olympic athletes, world-renowned musicians, and international business people.
Order DNA origin analysisRoantree: Where does the name Roantree come from?
The last name Roantree is most commonly found in English-speaking countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. In the United Kingdom, Roantree is particularly common in the northern counties of Cumbria, Lancashire, and Yorkshire. In Canada, it is mainly found in the provinces of British Columbia, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island. In the United States, the surname is most commonly found in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, and California.
The surname Roantree has several possible origins and derivations. It is believed to have been of English origin and is thought to refer to someone who lived near an oak tree. It may also have been derived from the Old English words "hroe," which means a person of honor or fame, and "treow," which means tree or wood. Alternatively, it may have been derived from the French word "arrondissement," which means district or circumference - thus referring to someone who lived in a particular area.
Today, the surname Roantree is a relatively rare last name, making up less than 0.001% of all surnames in the United States. However, it is still moderately common in its areas of origin and shows fair distribution across the English-speaking countries.
Variations of the surname Roantree
The surname Roantree is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is derived from the Old English place name ‘Roda’, meaning a clearing in the woods. Variants of the surname include Roantra, Roanter, Rowantree, Rwontree, Rowntree, Ronter and Ronaldtree.
The English surname Roantree has evolved over many centuries, and different spellings of the name exist today. Within records, we find examples of Roantree spelled as Rowntree, Roanter, Roandra and Rowanta. The spelling of the surname might have been altered slightly due to dialectical variations or to differentiate families from those with a similar name. For example, in records where many Roantrees lived in close proximity, slightly different spelling could emerge to differentiate between the families.
The surnames Roanter and Roandra are very similar to Roantree and have the same meaning. Ronter is a Welsh variant of Roantree, and Ronaldtree is a diminutive form of the name, created from the combination of two given names – Ronald and Tree.
The Roantree surname can also be linked to addressing, as it was adopted by families who originally came from the places referred to in the names. For example, the Roantree surname might have been adopted by families who had moved to nearby villages which had a variation of the place name.
Over time, it would have been common for individuals to use different spellings for their surnames. This meant that, regardless of how the surname might have been spelled in its original form, different spelling variants could emerge over time. This could explain the numerous spellings of the Roantree surname found in records today.
Famous people with the name Roantree
- Eric Roantree: former NFL wide receiver, now sports analyst and commentator
- Robert Roantree: British actor and mixed martial artist
- Laura Roantree: award-winning movie stunt coordinator
- Laith Roantree: politician, former governor of Texas
- Joseph Roantree: singer, songwriter, and actor
- Jack Roantree: entrepreneur and innovator
- Elyssa Roantree: Olympic athlete, specializing in long-distance running
- Justin Roantree: professional bike racer
- Fiona Roantree: award-winning novelist
- Chris Roantree: Grammy-winning music producer and engineer