Root Surname Meaning & Coat of Arms

Anyone researching Root should also look under Rot. Surname dictionaries give the meaning as “The gay or cheerful man”.

Heraldry and the Root name

Heraldry is personal: arms associated with the Rot surname were borne by specific families, and sharing the name does not mean sharing the blazon.

How the spelling arose

The extra “o” in Root is a spelling habit rather than a different name. Census takers and immigration officers often wrote what they heard. Related forms: Rote.

The 2010 census count for Root in the United States was 20,284, good for rank 1,770. Root sounds close to Rota, so it can help to search both. For the full story, order the Root surname pack.