Show ContentsSothwell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Sothwell name come from when the Anglo-Saxon tribes ruled over Britain. The name Sothwell was originally derived from a family having lived in the parish of Southwell found in the county of Nottingham.

Early Origins of the Sothwell family

The surname Sothwell was first found in Nottinghamshire where "the family are of great antiquity as lords of Southwell, till the reign of Henry VI. They afterwards settled in Norfolk and Suffolk, whence the ancestor of Viscount Southwell removed to Ireland temp. James I." 1

Henry de Suthwell was listed in Nottinghamshire in 1360 as was Richard Sowthwell in 1451. 2 Richard de Southwell was listed in the Feet of Fines for Norfolk in 1474. 3

Woodrising, Norfolk was an ancient family seat. "The manor was formerly the property of the Southwell family, of whom Sir Richard was chancellor to Edward VI., and Sir Robert secretary for Ireland in the reign of Charles II." 4

Early History of the Sothwell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sothwell research. Another 68 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1504, 1561, 1564, 1592, 1595, 1598, 1607, 1623, 1626, 1631, 1635, 1637, 1665, 1667, 1671, 1676, 1677, 1678, 1682, 1688, 1689, 1690, 1695, 1697, 1698, 1702, 1713, 1717, 1720, 1729, 1730, 1766 and 1912 are included under the topic Early Sothwell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sothwell Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Sothwell include Southwell, Sothwell and others.

Early Notables of the Sothwell family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir Richard Southwell (1504-1564), English courtier, English Privy Councillor from Windham Manor, Norfolk. His grandfather, Sir Richard Southwell of Barham Hall, Suffolk, acquired Woodrising in Norfolk by his marriage with Amy, daughter and coheiress of Sir Edmund Wichingham. Richard, owing to the deaths of his father and uncle, was heir to great wealth. Robert Southwell (c. 1561-1595), also known as Saint Robert Southwell, an English Roman Catholic priest of the Jesuit Order, canonized by Pope Paul VI as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. He was third son of Richard...
Another 104 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sothwell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Sothwell family to Ireland

Some of the Sothwell family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 197 words (14 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 Sothwell family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: Susannah Southwell who settled in Maryland in 1775; George and Thomas Southwell arrived in Pennsylvania in 1855. In Newfoundland, William Southwell settled in St. John's in 1830.



The Sothwell 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: Nec male notus eques
Motto Translation: A knight not badly known.


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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