Roskam

Recorded as Roscamp, Roscam (German), Roskam, Roskams (Dutch) and others, this is a surname of Germanic origins. It is locational from a village called Roscamp in the Province of Rheinland, or from a village called Roskam in The Netherlands, or it may be ornamental. In the 18th century many nations adopted an official policy of encouraging surnames of an ornamental nature. These were designed to have a pleasurable sound and an abstract meaning. There are many examples commencing with 'ros(e),' to which was added a suffix such as garten or berg for instance. In this case the name is believed to pre-date the 18th century and to translates as a place amongst the roses, perhaps signifying a summer camp for the shepherds in ancient times. A coat of arms associated withe the name and granted in Holland has the blazon of a gold field charged with three red stirrups. Early recordings include Theodorus Roscamp, the son of Johannis and Magdalenae (nee Hoverath), christened at Keyenberg, on December 15th 1743, and Margaretha Roscam, who married Josephus Nahman at Borschemich on April 15th 1780. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.