Recorded as Rosvere, Rosevear, and Roseveare, this is an English and Cornish surname. It is locational and residential, from a village called Rosevear near St Mawgan. The name means 'the big moor' from the ancient pre 10th century Cornish and Celtic words 'ros vur'. In almost all parts of Europe locational names, that is to say surnames taken from place names, are also 'from' names. These are names given to people after they have left their original homes to move somewhere else. The easiest way in the past to identify 'strangers' was to call them by the name of the place from whence they came. However this did not apply in Cornwall, parts of Wales and Northern Scotland. There people who lived at a place, were called by the name of that place. As a result, because an entire village might be called Rosevear for example, people developed localised nicknames to provide for identity. However these were not recorded in the church registers so we are only able to quote examples as we have found them. Thse include Jerom Roseveare of Luxulyan on July 23rd 1607, and Thomas, the son of Francis Rosevear, christened at St Austell on February 15th 1746.

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