Recorded as Foss and Fosse, and in the west and south west of England as Voss and Vosse, this is an English and very occasionally Scottish, surname of ancient origins. It is residential and derives from the pre 7th century word foss or voss meaning a ditch or dike, or in the case of the the Fosse Way, which forms one of the famous Roman Roads of England and running from near Exeter in the far west, upto Lincoln in the East, a road on top of a dike. There are at least ten places or rivers called Foss or Fosse in England and one in Scotland, and it is possible that the name could originate from all or any of them.
The first recording though is from Sussex, where as far as we know there is no such place. This demonstrates that residential names were often given to people after they had left their original homes to move somewhere else. This first recording is of John del Fosse in the year 1199, whilst another John, John del Fosse appears in the Tax Subsidy rolls of Somerset in 1327, and Robert atte Voss in Devonshire in 1330.
The history of the surname foss is, like that of most surnames, a complex and fascinating journey to ancient times with the aim of unraveling the origin of foss. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname foss is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation.
It is common for surnames like foss to become known in places far removed from their country or region of origin. Discover which ones. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname foss provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.
The historical journey of the surname foss can be traced back to those who were the first bearers of foss. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname foss, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of foss developed.
You can visit us regularly to get more information about the origin of the surname foss, as we frequently accept significant contributions from other individuals interested in heraldry and the history of surnames. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about foss and send it to us, we will update it on this website.
Unfortunately, it's highly probable that not all fosss who performed notable deeds have been included in historical chronicles and records. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname foss were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname foss who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.
It goes without saying that consulting bibliographic and documentary sources is essential when accessing information about the origins of the surname foss. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of foss are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of foss, and at the same time, of surnames in general.