Show ContentsRutland History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Rutland is a name that came to England in the 11th century wave of migration that was set off by the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Rutland family lived in a number of locations bearing the name Rutland in the counties of Derbyshire, Cornwall, Surrey, and Cumberland, as well as the county of Rutland itself. Rutland is a classic example of an English polygenetic surname, which is a surname that was developed in a number of different locations and adopted by various families independently.

Early Origins of the Rutland family

The surname Rutland was first found in Surrey where the family was anciently seated as Lords of the Manor of Mitcham in Surrey. At the time of the taking of the Domesday Book, [1] a survey initiated by Duke William of Normandy in 1086 after his conquest of England at Hastings in 1066 A.D., Mitcham was recorded as being held by the Canons of Bayeux who held it from the Bishop of Bayeux. The village of Mitcham consisted of one half a mill, a rating not uncommon, and was anciently famous for being the scene of lavender fields.

One of the first records of the family was Hugh or Rutland or Hue de Rotelande (fl. 1185), an Anglo-Norman poet. [2]

Early History of the Rutland family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rutland research. Another 46 words (3 lines of text) covering the year 1782 is included under the topic Early Rutland History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rutland Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Rutland have been found, including Rutland, Ritland, Rotland, Rutlane, Ratland, Ruttland, Rutlland, Roushland and many more.

Early Notables of the Rutland family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Frederick William Rutland of Surrey

Rutland Ranking

In the United States, the name Rutland is the 5,727th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [3]


United States Rutland migration to the United States +

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Rutland were among those contributors:

Rutland Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Richard Rutland who settled in Virginia in 1641
  • Rich Rutland, who landed in Virginia in 1641 [4]
  • Margaret Rutland, who landed in Maryland in 1654 [4]
  • Mary Rutland, who arrived in Virginia in 1657 [4]
  • Edmond Rutland, who landed in Virginia in 1658 [4]
Rutland Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Simon Rutland, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 [4]
  • Edward Rutland, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1765
Rutland Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Agnes Rutland, who settled in New York State in 1823
  • George Rutland, who arrived in New York, NY in 1835 [4]

Australia Rutland migration to Australia +

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

Rutland Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Frederick Rutland, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Branken Moor" in 1840 [5]
  • Margaret Mason Rutland, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Branken Moor" in 1840 [5]
  • Mr. John Rutland, (b. 1811), aged 34, English brick maker who was convicted in Norwich, Norfolk, England for 15 years for arson, transported aboard the "David Malcolm" on 13th May 1845, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) and Norfolk Island, he died in 1890 [6]
  • Mr. Edward Rutland, English convict who was convicted in Knutsford (Nether Knutsford), Cheshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bangalore" on 28th March 1848, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) from Bermuda [7]

New Zealand Rutland 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:

Rutland Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Rutland, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Royal Albert" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 6th March 1853 [8]
  • Miss. Julia Ann Rutland, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Royal Albert" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 6th March 1853 [8]
  • Mr. Joshua Rutland, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Royal Albert" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 6th March 1853 [8]
  • Mr. George Rutland, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Royal Albert" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 6th March 1853 [8]
  • Mr. Dudley Rutland, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Royal Albert" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 6th March 1853 [8]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Rutland (post 1700) +

  • Patti Rutland, American choreographer and the artistic director of Patti Rutland Jazz
  • Mark Rutland (b. 1947), American missionary, evangelist and ordained minister, 3rd President of Oral Roberts University (2009-2012)
  • John James Robert Manners Rutland (1818-1906), English politician, Member of Parliament for Colchester (1850-1857), for North Leicestershire (1857-1885) and for East Leicestershire from 1885 until in 1888
  • John Rutland (1916-2013), British character actor who worked in theatre and television
  • Rutland Boughton (1878-1960), English composer of opera and choral music, best known for his opera "the Immortal Hour"


The Rutland 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: Post praeilia praemia
Motto Translation: Reward after battle.


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. 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)
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BRANKEN MOOR 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840BrankenMoor.htm
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-malcolm
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bangalore
  8. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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