Rosentreter Family Tree Project

Name Variants: Rosenträger, Rosentrater, Rosentrætter, Rosentreder, Rosentreader, Rosentrader, Rosentraeger, Rozentreter, Rosentreater, Rosendräger, Rosendraeger, Rosentritt, Różański, Rozentretr, Rosentrede, Rosentrith, Rosentredere, Розентретер

The earliest documented spellings of the name are ‘Rosentreter & Rosentreder’ from Low German/Low Saxon (Plattdeutsch), the most probable family dialects spoken in the 11th-15th centuries where ‘trede’ is dialect for ‘treten’ which can mean to step (on), to walk (on), or to kick, so the literal translation would be “Tread’s or Walk’s on Roses”. This would appear to have a royal connection. To tread or walk on roses (or flowers) was generally reserved for the nobility or “hero’s” of that time. The name may have been granted by royalty for some service or deed which was also not uncommon.

Other early spellings of the name no longer found in current use are: ‘Rosentrede, Rosentrith, Rosentret & Rosentredere’. Variations of the name appear to be phonetically-based in general, and when researching, it is very common for different spellings to be used for the same person or family group.

The most common variants found to date are ‘Rosentreter, Rosentrater, Rosentrætter & Rosentreder’. (Although we only know of one living male with the name Rosentreder, and he only has daughters, so this name may die out this century.)

NOTE: We are unsure of the validity and authenticity of the crest shown here. More research is required.

About the Rosentreter origins

There is a reference to an Ecbert Rosentrede in 1262 in Hamburg, Germany, which would have been the time of the Crusade’s, however we can find no more information.

In Hans Bahlow’s book, (Deutsches Namenlexikon), he mentions a gardener named Godeke Rosentredere in 1290 living in Stralsund (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany). In the Duden book, (Family Names, Origin and Meaning, edited by Rosa and Volker Kohlheim), they mention a Heincze Rosentrith at Neumarkt in Silesia about 1305, a Petir Rosentret at Liegnitz in Silesia from about 1372, and Diderike Rosentredere at Hildesheim from 1412.

The earliest documented use of the name ‘Rosentreter’ found to date is Canon Dietrich Rosentreter born about 1386 in Alfeld, Lower Saxony, Germany and died in Stendal, Saxony-Anhalt in 1448.

In the 1500’s and 1600’s, other documented family members are a Joachim Rosentreder (b. before 1540) and living in Kamień Pomorski, Kamień County, Poland with his daughter in 1560. This town is on the Baltic Sea and at that time was part of West Prussia. It is about 60 km’s (37 miles) North of the regional capital of Szczecin (Stettin) and about 25 km’s (15 miles) East of the current-day German border.

Other regions where we find families in the 1500’s and 1600’s include Słupsk, Słupsk County, Poland,  Lower Saxony in Germany (Bremen, Sandstedt & Bramstedt), Aschersleben, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, the Chojnice & Konitz regions (Koschneiderei) in Poland (Abrau, Lichnau, etc.) and Ruppin (Neuruppin), Brandenburg in Germany.

The biggest populations of Rosentreter’s alive today are in the USA, Germany, Canada, Poland and Australia, with other smaller branches of the family in Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden, England (UK), Argentina, Russia, Ukraine & Chile.

Who was the first 'Rosentreter'?

Disclaimer: This theoretical study has been prepared using the best information found to date, but should not be considered as totally factual.

The first Rosentreter was:

• most likely a Saxon,
• a trader and/or warrior,
• between 5′ 7″ (170cm) & 5′ 10″ (178cm),
• had fair complexion,
• blue eyes, and
• fair hair.

His name may have been granted by nobility or it may have been a nickname.

He most likely lived around Bremen in Germany in the early 12th century and his name in Low German would have been spelt ‘Rosentrede’.

Rationale & Research

There are a number of clues to this theory:

• A recent poll of living Rosentreter’s revealed that 90% had either Blue, Green or Hazel coloured eyes. This is curious as the most common eye colour in the world (representing over 50% of the population) is Brown. Green is the least common eye colour and it is found most frequently in northern and central Europe. Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have found that everyone with Blue eyes (which accounted for 50% in our family survey) descended from the same single person about 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. They believe that this individual was the first person with the genetic mutation that prevented him from making melanin, the pigment that makes eyes brown, in his eyes. They were able to trace this gene to the region around the Black Sea.
  
  
• There is a high percentage of male family members over the age of 50 who exhibit signs of Dupuytren’s Contracture (Vikings Disease). This condition, in which one or more fingers become permanently bent in a flexed position, is more common among those of Nordic descent. In the United States about 5% of people are affected at some point in time, while in Norway about 30% of men over 60 years old have the condition.
  
  
• DNA testing has revealed at least 65% of living Rosentreter’s DNA originates in Western Europe (Scandinavia & Central Europe). When Eastern Europe is added, the origins show over 95%. This would make sense as we know the family spread from Western Europe into Eastern Europe with the rise of the Prussian Empire. It also shows a small percentage from the Black Sea area which may relate to the Blue eyes.
  
  
• Historical Military Records show average heights of Rosentreter’s between 5′ 7″ (170cm) & 5′ 10″ (178cm), with ‘solid’ or ‘stocky’ build, fair complexion and fair or brown hair.
  
  
• Saxons were the original tribe in the area we find the earliest Rosentreters. Read more here.
  
  
• The earliest recorded spelling is that of an Ecbert Rosentrede in Bremen, Germany in 1262. Dialects spoken in the 11th-15th centuries in the area were Low German/Low Saxon where ‘trede’ is dialect for ‘treten’ which can mean to step (on), to walk (on), or to kick. This may have been a nickname for someone who was battle accomplished or a great warrior and regularly fêted by the population with roses thrown in his path.

'NN' = Not Named | 'NK' = Not Known | 'about' = +/- 10 years | 'AKA' = Also Known As

'bapt.' = Birth/Baptism/Christening | 'cop.' = Marriage | 'mort.' = Death/Burial

Apart from a few exceptions (where there is known connections and other supporting evidence), only data found in the original records has been entered into this database.

Where parent's birth dates cannot be found, we have entered their birth as 21 years prior to the earliest found child's birth year.

Where no death record can be found, we have entered death as 110 years after year of birth (including where there is only an estimated year of birth). This is to ensure the database shows persons as deceased.

Where a record only provides only an age, we have entered the persons birth year (giving us a +/- 1 year margin) as:

• (e.g. Age 50 and event occurred 15th March: added as event year less 51 years) as the event occurred before 1st July, or
• (e.g. Age 50 and event occurred 15th September: added as event year less 50 years) as the event occurred after 30th June.

Where there are discrepancies of Family/Surname spellings we have used

• the spelling from the persons Signature (where available) or,
• the 'most common German name spelling' and/or,
• in some instances, the most common spelling from a group of documented records.

Family/Surnames that have non-English characters have NOT been changed (Examples: Riebschläger, Krüger, Mittelstädt, Öhlke, etc.). These are all in the original spellings.

Feminine forms of surname spellings have been converted to masculine. Examples: Kopinska is now Kopinski, Wegnerin is now Wegner.

All places for events have been entered as the current day place name and the original name and other details are shown in the footnotes. Place names that have non-English characters (especially Polish characters) have been changed to English characters for ease of searching.

Julian Calendar dates have been converted to Gregorian.