roussel

Roussel is a French surname. It derives from the Old French adjective roux, meaning red-haired or ruddy, with the diminutive suffix -el, and it likely originated as a nickname for someone with a red or ruddy complexion. The name has been borne by many families in France and French-speaking communities in Belgium and Canada, and it appears in records dating from the Middle Ages onward. In modern times bearers of the name have been active in diverse fields including the arts, science, and public life.

Notable individuals with the surname include Albert Roussel (1869–1937), a French composer associated with the early 20th-century French music scene, known for works such as Le Festin de l’araignée and his orchestral suites. The surname remains a recognizable marker of French heritage in genealogy and cultural history, and it continues to be found among people of French descent around the world.