Sowthwell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Ireland 


The Sowthwell name has descended through the generations from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name comes from having lived in the parish of Southwell found in the county of Nottingham.

Early Origins of the Sowthwell family

The surname Sowthwell 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 Sowthwell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sowthwell 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 Sowthwell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sowthwell Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Sowthwell has undergone many spelling variations, including Southwell, Sothwell and others.

Early Notables of the Sowthwell 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 Sowthwell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sowthwell family to Ireland

Some of the Sowthwell 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 Sowthwell family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. 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 Sowthwell were among those contributors: 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 Sowthwell 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.





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