The mission of the Roop / Royer Historic Preservation Fund is to preserve historic Carroll County Properties, cemeteries, artifacts and genealogical documents relating to the Roop / Royer extended family and to provide to the public, educational opportunities by means of publications, newsletters, web site, exhibits, tours and scholarships on topics including but not limited to Pennsylvania German Culture, the Brethren and Mennonite Movements, Carroll County Mills and early industry, farming and homestead.
The Roop family in Carroll County descends from Christian Rupp who landed at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1750. Five of Christian’s ten (10) children came to Maryland about the time of the Revolution and settled in what was Frederick County. They were Joseph, Christian, David, John and Anna. Anna and John married Peter and Catherine Royer, hence the close association between the two families.
The first annual Roop / Royer Reunion was held in September 1927 at the Meadow Branch Church of the Brethren for the purpose of compiling a complete family history. This was realized in 1931 when H.G. Englar published The Roop Family. The index of names reveals connections with many of Carroll County’s prominent early families. Roop / Royer descendants have made significant contributions to the community in medicine, business, politics, banking, mining, industry and the ministry. The Family Association continues to meet annually the second Sunday in September at the Union Bridge Community Center. The year 2000 marked the 250th Anniversary of the Roop / Royer Family in America.
