Origin of the name Rogozin

There are several versions of the origin of the name Rogoza or Rogozin. Its roots go down both into the old Slavic language and in Hebrew. That's why it can be Jewish, as well as Russian and Belorussian.

The first, Russian version of the origin of this name is the following. It originates from the word "rogoza" or "ragoz" that in Russian (in dialects of this language) means "mat" made of cane or reed. The original meaning of the word "ragoza" or "ragoz" in Russian meant the name of a swamp plant that was used in Russian villages (and maybe in Jewish shtetles) to make a rough cloth. In particular, this name was given to those who wove such cloth. Once this was a wide spread and maybe even profitable occupation. Later one called "rogozina" a golden or silver thread that was used in making army marks.

The second version of the origin of this name is that in the old Slavic language "ragoza" means a conflict or quarrel. In Belorussian this word means disorder until today.

The third version of the origin of this name is the Hebrew and correspondingly the Jewish one. In Hebrew the word "Rogza" means anxiety, anger, turmoil. That as you can see corresponds to the old Slavic one. Not going into the linguistic origins of this word it can be suggested that the word passed to the old Slavic from Hebrew.

And at last, the fourth version of the name origin is toponimic. It is not excluded that the name came from the name of three well known shtetles in the Pale of Settlement. The first is the shtetl Rogozy of Viley uezd, the second is Rogozno of the Mogilev gubernia and the third is Rogozino, not far from the town Orsh. As we know, often the names were given to Jews in accord with the name of the place in which they once resided. We know little about the spread of this name. In particular, we managed to learn that before the Russian revolution a rather well-to-do Jewish family with the name Rogoza lived in Tavrida in the Ekaterinburg area.