Roe / Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Roe / Family History

Roe / Family History

The ancient origin of the name Roe was found in the irishsurnames.com archives. Meaning 'red haired one', variants of the name Roe include Rowe, Row, Rowes, Rowson, Rowell, Rowett and Roebuck. This name is of Celtic origin and is found throughout England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It is found in many mediaeval manuscripts in these countries. Examples of such are a Richard del a Rowe, 1386, a Stephen del Rowe, 1426, a Roger del Rowe, 1441, and a Hugh Rowe, 1477, who were all recorded in the 'Lists of the Mayors' of Macclesfield. In Ireland Roe is used as a synonym of O'Ruaidh which was more often anglicized as Ormond and found in the County Cork and Waterford area. Roe is also an abbreviation of the name McEnroe, which is derived from the Mac Conruabha sept of Counties Cavan and Leitrim. These names are widespread throughout the four Provinces.The Roe family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Roe descendants.