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Show ContentsRawlins History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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Rawlins is one of the many names that the Normans brought with them when they conquered England in 1066. The name Rawlins came from the Norman given name Radulphus. 1 This name, which also occurs as Ralf, Rolf, and Raoul, is adapted from the Old French given name Raol. Alternatively, the name could have been a baptismal name as in "the son of Rowland" which is pronounced Rawland and Rolland in Furness and Cumberland, "where a large family of Rawlinsons has sprung up, undoubtedly descendants of Rowland through Rawlandson." 2

Early Origins of the Rawlins family

The surname Rawlins was first found in Oxfordshire where William Raulyn was listed at Evynsham in 1290. A few years later, John Rawlynes was found in Warwickshire in 1343. Almost two hundred years later, Richard Rawlinson was listed in Yorkshire in 1538. 3

The Rawlin, Rawline and Rawling spellings have been frequent in Scotland since the 16th century. Concentrated in Dumfriesshire, one of the first records was David Rawlynge who held a "botha seu opella" in Dumfries, 1588. Marcus Raulling was listed in Glencapill in 1630, Catherine Railing in Dumfries, 1642, and Thomas Rawling of Dumfries, 1696. 4 Some of the family were far to the south in Lansalloes, Cornwall where "the family of Rawlings" held titles. 5

Early History of the Rawlins family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rawlins research. Another 121 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1508, 1521, 1523, 1536, 1576, 1610, 1620, 1631, 1647, 1670, 1679, 1690, 1705, 1706, 1708, 1755 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Rawlins History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rawlins Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Rawlins has been recorded under many different variations, including Rawlings, Rawlins, Rawlington, Rawlinson and others.

Early Notables of the Rawlins family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Richard Rawlins (died 1536), English cleric, Bishop of St David's (1523-1536) and Warden of Merton College, Oxford (1508-1521)
  • Thomas Rawlins (c.1620-1670), an English medallist and playwright
  • John Rawlinson (1576-1631), an English churchman and academic who was principal of St Edmund Hall, Oxford from 1610
  • Sir Thomas Rawlinson (1647-1708), Lord Mayor of the City of London (1705-1706)
  • Daniel Rawlinson (died 1679), of Graythwaite and London, a London vintner

Rawlins Ranking

In the United States, the name Rawlins is the 4,169th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 6

Ireland Migration of the Rawlins family to Ireland

Some of the Rawlins family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Rawlins migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Rawlinss were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Rawlins Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Mrs. Joan Rawlins, who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet
  • Mr. Thomas Rawlins who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet
  • Mrs. Mary Rawlins who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet 7
  • Mr. Thomas Rawlins, Jr., who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet 7
  • Mr. Nathaniel Rawlins who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Rawlins Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas C Rawlins, who arrived in Mobile County, Ala in 1840 8
  • Robert V Rawlins, who arrived in Arkansas in 1859 8

Australia Rawlins migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Rawlins Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Abigail Rawlins, British Convict who was convicted in Bristol, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
  • Mr. Thomas Rawlins, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "England"on 28th April 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
  • Mr. Thomas Rawlins, British Convict who was convicted in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Dunvegan Castle" on 13th March 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
  • Mr. Thomas Rawlins, English convict who was convicted in Bedford, Befordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Burrell" on 22nd July 1830, arriving in New South Wales 12
  • Miss Eliza Rawlins, English Convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atwick" on 28 September 1837, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Rawlins migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Rawlins Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Mark Rawlins, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Mersey" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th June 1861 14
  • Mrs. Jane Rawlins, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Mersey" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th June 1861 14
  • Mr. Sydney Rawlins, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Mersey" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th June 1861 14
  • Thomas Rawlins, aged 28, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Schiehallion" in 1872

West Indies Rawlins migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 15
Rawlins Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Henry Rawlins, aged 25, who landed in Barbados in 1635 8
  • Mr. John Rawlins, (b. 1617), aged 18, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Matthew" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 16
  • Mr. Henry Rawlins, (b. 1610), aged 25, British settler travelling aboard the ship "Expedition" arriving in Barbados in 1636 17
Rawlins Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century
  • Ama Rawlins, who settled in St. Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1775

Contemporary Notables of the name Rawlins (post 1700) +

  • William D. Rawlins, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 2nd District, 1942 18
  • Wilbur F. Rawlins, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 12th District, 1918; Prohibition Candidate for New York State Assembly from New York County 21st District, 1919 18
  • Joseph Lafayette Rawlins (1850-1926), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to U.S. Congress from Utah Territory, 1893-95; Defeated, 1894; U.S. Senator from Utah, 1897-1903 18
  • Preston Rawlins, American politician, Member of Georgia State House of Representatives from Telfair County, 1933-34, 1939-40 18
  • John Aaron Rawlins (1831-1869), American politician, Secretary of War, 1869; Died in office 1869 18
  • Mrs. J. R. Rawlins, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Democratic National Committee from Utah, 1939 18
  • I. H. Rawlins, American politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Blair County, 1875-76 18
  • George Rawlins, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Arizona, 1940 18
  • Veldon Lane Rawlins (b. 1937), American academic, President of the University of North Texas (2010-2014)
  • Joseph Lafayette Rawlins (1850-1926), American politician, delegate from the Territory of Utah and a United States Senator from Utah (1897-1903)
  • ... (Another 14 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Air New Zealand Flight 901
  • Miss Valerie Mary Rawlins (1903-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Mt. Eden, North Island, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; she died in the crash 19

The Rawlins Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Cognosce teipsum et disce pati
Motto Translation: Know thyself, and learn to suffer.
  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  5. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  8. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  9. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/england
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dunvegan-castle
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/burrell
  13. Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 23rd August 2020 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atwick
  14. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  15. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  16. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  17. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 29th September 2021. Retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  18. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 28) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  19. Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
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