Welcome to the Ross Family page at Surname Finder, a service of Genealogy Today. Our editors have compiled this checklist of genealogical resources, combining links to commercial databases along with user-contributed information and web sites for the Ross surname. As additional sources for vital records, original documents, vintage photographs and surname-based DNA projects are discovered, this page is updated to offer the best list for researching Ross ancestry. Share this page on Twitter!
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The Ross Family Tree
It is quite possible that someone else has already performed work on a Ross family tree, so be sure to examine some of the sources listed below carefully. Have you struck a Ross brick wall? Read "Searching For A Needle In An Ancestral Haystack" for some helpful advice.
Best Tree Collections for Discovering Ross Ancestors
Ross Genealogy
Many things can go wrong when a record collection is indexed. If you're having diffculty finding Ross ancestors in a particular database at one site, try finding it on another and compare the results. If you want to know When were Ross births first recorded in the United States?, then read this frequently asked question.
Top Five Genealogy Databases to Search for Ross
Historical newspapers give us the ability to discover ancestral history through eyewitness accounts.
There are currently matching Ross records at Ancestry.com!
Start exploring this online Ross family history resource today.
Death Records
Military Records
Origins of the Ross Surname
While some countries have limited historical records for last name assignments, you are most likely to only find general guidance on the origin and meaning of the Ross surname. Were you aware that Ross is considered a very common surname, which offers its own set of challenges? The article "Researching Common Names" may be helpful for your research. Keep in mind that it was not unusual for a last name to be altered as an ancestor entered a new country.
Ross DNA Projects
DNA testing for genealogy continues to improve. If you had some of your Ross relatives tested several years ago, it may be worthwhile to have them retested. Likewise, as DNA testing companies have gathered more results and samples, you may be able to find more matches if you search again with your test results. If you are seeking an answer to the question, How do I know which DNA test is right for Ross research?, then this FAQ may help.
Ross Family History
Every family has a different history, and every document you discover about your Ross ancestors will help paint a picture that can be shared with your relatives. Whether you are a beginner or expert genealogists, knowing How do I find my Ross family history on the Internet? is always useful.
Photo Collections
Networking with Ross Researchers
When you've come up against a brick wall in your genealogy research, posting a message board query can help; one of the biggest benefits is that message board queries are accessed through search engines, which means even someone not specifically engaged in genealogy but interested in your subject may find your query and bring valuable new information to the table -- it happens! The article "Are Your Queries Getting Results?" provides some valuable tips for posting successful Ross queries.
You may also want to consider posting a query to the Community Message Boards at Genealogy Today to get assistance from other researchers on your most elusive Ross ancestors.
Ross Achievements & Celebrities
Did you know that Ross was the 80th most popular surname in the 1990 census of the United States?
Web Sites & Blogs with Ross Research
If you are having difficulty locating records for the last name of Ross, contact the folks at ProGenealogists for a free research estimate. You may also find it helpful to read, "When, Why and How to Hire a Professional Genealogist."
RootsWeb search of US Naturalization Records
RootsWeb search of Obituary Daily Times
RootsWeb search of Social Security Death Index
To recommend your web site/blog for inclusion on this page, please submit a link to the user-contributed directory at Genealogy Today. Your web page may appear once its content has been reviewed by our editors.
Recently Discovered ROSS Clippings and Mentions
Upcoming Ross Family Reunions
Notifying everyone in advance to bring old photos and documents can bring big rewards, making a special place at the reunion (maybe even a special Ross booth) where people can come at their leisure to sit, look and chat; in addition to information and clues that might be written on the back of a photo, every photograph has a story and serves as an excellent stimulus to recall -- people might comment not only on the people in the photo, but also on what's in the background, or they might have information around where the photo was taken or the event -- just be sure to have someone there to capture new information. The article "Reunions: Beyond Aunt Pat's Rhubarb Pie and Aunt Edna's Wet Kisses" may provide you with tips for hosting a successful Ross reunion.
See Also
Ros Rocc Rass Rossa Rosse Rossi Rosso Ros Roc Rhos Rosc Ras Rohs Rosa Rose Rosi Roso Rosy MacRoss McRoss Van Oss
Surname Finder, The Ross Genealogy and Family Tree Page [on-line resource], New Providence, NJ, USA: Genealogy Today LLC, 2023.
