Show ContentsStothert History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

From the ancestors of the Boernician clans of the ancient Scottish-English border region comes the name Stothert. It is a name for a breeder of horses. The name comes from the Old English terms stod, meaning a stud of horses, and hierde, which means herd. The name as a whole has a meaning of horse-keeper. 1 2 3

Early Origins of the Stothert family

The surname Stothert was first found in Northumberland and Cumberland, just south of the Scottish border. "The earliest mention of this surname in Scotland is in 1376 when David Stodhirde, John Studehird, and William Studhirde are recorded as tenants of Douglas in barony of Buittle. Sir James Stodart was presented to a chaplaincy in the Collegiate Church of Methven, 1516. 4

Early History of the Stothert family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Stothert research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1376, 1568, 1810, 1826 and 1880 are included under the topic Early Stothert History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Stothert Spelling Variations

In the Middles Ages scribes spelled names by their sound. Often a name was written under a different spelling variation each time it was recorded. Stothert has appeared as Stoddart, Stoddard, Stodart, Stodhard, Stodhart, Stothert and many more.

Early Notables of the Stothert family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was Thomas Tod Stoddart (1810-1880), angler and poet, born on 14 Feb. 1810 in Argyle Square, Edinburgh. He was the eldest son of Captain (afterwards Admiral) Pringle Stoddart, a descendant of the Stouthearts of Liddesdale and Ettrick, and his wife Frances, daughter of James Sprot. At the age of ten he was sent to a Moravian school in Lancashire, but soon returned to attend the high school and the university of his...
Another 80 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Stothert Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Stothert family

The ancestors of Boernician-Scottish settlers dot North America even today. They settled all along the east coast when they came over, but some went north as United Empire Loyalists at the time of the War of Independence. However, these strong lines endured as Scottish families in the United States and Canada have rediscovered much of the heritage that was taken from them centuries ago. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Stothert, or a variant listed above: Anthony Stoddard who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1635; followed by Benjamin in 1765; Solomon Stoddard (1643-1729) American Congregational theologian and pastor who became the first librarian of Harvard lived in Boston, Massachusetts.



The Stothert 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 nubes lux
Motto Translation: After clouds light.


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  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. 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)


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