<B>Rochester</B> - Variants: Rossiter, Rosseter, Rogister, Rositer, Regester<BR> 1. English: locative name from one of three places in Northumb with names whose early spellings are very similar and difficult to distinguish from each other. Rudchester (NGR NZ 1167) in Ovingham, recorded as <i>Rodecastre</i> in 1251, <i>Ruchestre</i> in 1293, <i>Routchester</i> in 1663, is probably the likeliest source of the surname, which is concentrated in the southern half of Northumb, but Rochester parish (NGR NY 8398), recorded as <i>Rouschestre</i> in 1325, and a lost <i>Ruchester</i> (approx. NGR NY 9372) in Chollerton, recorded as <i>Rowchestre</i> in 1348, are both possible candidates.<BR><BR> 2. English: locative name occasionally from the better-known city of Rochester in Kent.<BR><BR> Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016 <BR><BR> The Rochester DNA Project is for anyone with ancestors of the surname or related variations. <BR><BR> PROJECT TERMS AND CONDITIONS: <BR> By joining this project you are accepting the following terms and conditions. <BR><BR> You are solely responsible for your User Provided Content. It is your personal responsibility to manage your personal information options for your account, including your privacy and sharing preferences. <BR><BR> Project Members and Administrators may use information shared in this project to research genetic and genealogical relationships. Information includes DNA data that you share. <BR><BR> Project Members and Administrators may publish papers, research, reports, and genealogies which include information shared in this project. <BR><BR> You grant the Project Members and Administrators a perpetual, irrevocable, and unrestricted right to use information that you share in this project. Such uses include publication of papers, research, reports, and genealogies. <BR><BR> Within the limits allowed by applicable laws, you expressly acknowledge and agree that Project Administrators shall not be liable for any indirect, direct, incidental, consequential, special, or exemplary damages resulting from your having joined, used, or participated in the project. <BR><BR> You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Project Administrators from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, judgments, awards, losses, costs, expenses or fees (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from your access to the project or your use of information shared in the project. <BR><BR> Project Administrators are unpaid volunteers. You understand that Administrators do not monitor all project activity and may not respond promptly to member inquiries.