Ross, Scotland

Ross (Scottish Gaelic: Ros) is an area of Scotland. It was first recorded in the tenth century as a province, at which time it was under Norwegian overlordship. It was claimed by the Scottish crown in 1098, and from the 12th century Ross was an earldom. From 1661 there was a county of Ross, also known as Ross-shire, covering most but not all of the province, in particular excluding Cromartyshire. Cromartyshire was subsequently merged with the county of Ross in 1889 to form the county of Ross and Cromarty. The area is now part of the Highland council area.

The eastern and western parts of Ross are known as Easter Ross and Wester Ross. Easter Ross has a coast onto the Moray Firth and includes Ross's main towns of Dingwall (which was the county town of Ross-shire), Cromarty, Fortrose, Invergordon and Tain. Wester Ross is sparsely populated, containing part of the Northwest Highlands mountains and having extensive sea lochs along its coast onto the the Minch.

Ross gave its name to the medieval Diocese of Ross, which was based at Fortrose Cathedral. The name Ross is still used by the Church of Scotland for the Presbytery of Ross.