Roe

English, Scottish, Irish, Norwegian, or Korean surname

"roe deer; wise protector; son of Ruadh; red; clearing; ability"

Roe Origin and Meaning

The name Roe is a boy's name meaning "roe deer; wise protector; son of Ruadh; red; clearing; ability".

In the US, the multicultural surname Roe is primarily associated with the landmark Supreme Court case Roe vs. Wade, which granted the federal right to abortion, though elsewhere it might be associated with fish eggs or a small breed of reddish deer.

The name itself has a number of possible origins, including: from a Proto-Indo-European word rei meaning "streaked, striped"; a Middle English variant of Ray; a Norwegian name meaning "clearing"; an Irish surname linked to Ruadh meaning "red", or a Korean surname, possibly meaning "thunder".

It's never been popular as a given name but is seen as a nickname for names such as Monroe, Roscoe, and Rowan. Soundalike Rowe is used slightly more often.