| ![Show Contents]() Rathborne History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England The name Rathborne was spawned by the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture that ruled a majority of Britain. It comes from the baptismal name Rawbone. Patronymic surnames arose out of the vernacular and religious given name traditions. The vernacular or regional naming tradition is the oldest and most pervasive type of patronymic surname. According to this custom, names were originally composed of vocabulary elements from the local language. Vernacular names that were derived from ancient Germanic personal names have cognates in most European languages. Early Origins of the Rathborne familyThe surname Rathborne was first found in Worcestershire where Richard Rathebon was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1275. However, Cheshire was a focal point for the family as numerous entries were found there from the 14th century on. John Rathebon was listed there in 1347 1 and one source notes the name was in: "Cheshire records as Rathebon, does not seem to be English. If the original bearers of the name came from Ireland it answers to the Irish Rathbane, Rathbaun = 'White Fort' [Irish rath, a fort; also palace + bán, white]. If from Wales (as seems more likely), the name prob. means the 'Stumpy Clearing or Plain' [Welsh rhath, a cleared spot, plain (conn. with Irish rath) + Welsh bon, a stock, stump, stem (conn. with Irish and Gaelic bonn, a foundation, base] and is apparently allied to 'Ratisbon.' " 2 Another source has a slightly different understanding: "this surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Ruabon'. There seems little doubt that these surnames hail from Cheshire, also that Ruabon is the parent. The change to Rathbone is peculiar, but perhaps the place-name Ruabon has undergone a change. I furnish an instance of Rawbone from the Prestbury registers (Cheshire) dated 1603. A Thomas Rathbone was living there in 1695." 3 "There were Rathbones in Prestbury, [Cheshire] 200 years ago. Richard Rathbone was mayor of Chester in 1598, and Thomas Rathbone was sheriff of that city in 1790." 4 Early History of the Rathborne familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rathborne research. Another 98 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1696, 1726, 1746, 1748, 1750, 1757, 1763, 1770, 1773, 1780, 1789, 1792, 1807, 1809 and 1831 are included under the topic Early Rathborne History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Rathborne Spelling VariationsRathborne has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Rathborne have been found, including Rathbone, Rawbone, Rathburn and others. Early Notables of the Rathborne familyDistinguished members of the family include - Wilson Rathborne (1748-1831), captain in the navy, son of Richard Rathborne, a clergyman, was born near Loughrea, co. Galway, on 16 July 1748. In September 1763 he was entered as an ‘able seaman’ on b...
 Rathborne migration to the United States | + |
In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Rathbornes to arrive on North American shores:
Rathborne Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Eliz Rathborne, who arrived in Virginia in 1664 5
Rathborne Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- T R Rathborne, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 5
- W P Rathborne, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 5
| Contemporary Notables of the name Rathborne (post 1700) | + |
- Pippa Rathborne (d. 2014), American actress, known for A Dark Reflection and Judge John Deed (2001)
- Tina Rathborne (b. 1951), American film director and screenwriter, known for her work on Zelly and Me (1988) Twin Peaks (1990) and American Playhouse (1981)
- Joseph Rathborne (1807-1842), English Roman Catholic priest and controversialist from Lincolnshire
- Michael Rathborne (1923-1971), English actor, known for his work on The Mini-Mob (1967) No Hiding Place (1959) and Doctor Who (1963)
- Wilson Rathborne (1748-1831), Irish captain in the British Navy, son of Richard Rathborne, a clergyman, born near Loughrea, co. Galway
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: Suaviter et Fortiter
Motto Translation: Mildly and firmly.
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
- 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)
|
Rathborne migration to the United States 
