Show ContentsRudderhan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Rudderhan was carried to England in the enormous movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Rudderhan family lived in the West Riding of Yorkshire at Rotherham, a market-town and parish, and the head of a union, in the north division of the wapentake of Strafforth and Tickhill. The place name literally means "homestead or village on the River Rother," 1 "The town was formerly celebrated for its manufacture of edge tools; and in 1160, there were mines of ironstone, smelting-furnaces, and forges in the neighbourhood." 2 The local was named Rodreham in the Domesday Book. 3

Early Origins of the Rudderhan family

The surname Rudderhan was first found in Yorkshire where they were Lords of the Manor of Rotherham. Conjecturally they are descended from the Count of Mortain who held the lands and village of Rotherham at the taking of the Domesday Book in the year 1086, a census initiated by Duke William of Normandy after his conquest of England. The hamlet of Rotherham consisted mainly of one single Church.

Early History of the Rudderhan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rudderhan research. Another 127 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1423, 1500, 1600, 1610, 1630, 1648, 1694, 1696, 1752, 1772 and 1907 are included under the topic Early Rudderhan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rudderhan Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Rotherham, Rotheram, Rothram, Rudrum, Rudderham and others.

Early Notables of the Rudderhan family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Caleb Rotheram (1694-1752), English dissenting minister and tutor, born at Great Salkeld, Cumberland. Sir John Rotheram (1630-1696), was an English lawyer, son of Thomas Atwood Rotherham, vicar of Pirton, Hertfordshire, and of Boreham, Essex...
Another 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Rudderhan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Rudderhan family to Ireland

Some of the Rudderhan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Rudderhan family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Rudderhan or a variant listed above: John Rotherham who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1855; followed by George and William Rotherham in 1856; and John Rotherham in 1857.



  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)


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