Show ContentsRound History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Round family

The surname Round was first found in Essex where Radulfus Rotundus is found in the Pipe Rolls of 1130.1

"About 1272, Arnulf de Rondes, Robert his son, and Alicia de Rondes occur in the Hundredorum Rolls for Huntingdonshire. A family of the name is now domiciled in Essex; but this is nothing more than a coincidence, for it was not till 1724 that their ancestor James Round, citizen of London, purchased Birch Hall, near Colchester, their present seat." 2

Another source notes that Ralph Rund was listed in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1202 and Alecok Ronde was listed in the Assize Rolls for Lancashire in 1246. 3

Early History of the Round family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Round research. Another 98 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1626 and 1799 are included under the topic Early Round History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Round Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Round, Rounds, Rownd and others.

Early Notables of the Round family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Round of Essex
  • J. H. Round, Notable Historian


Round migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Round Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Togue Round, who settled in Virginia in 1655
  • Martha Round settled with her husband settled in New England in 1674
  • Martha Round, who arrived in New England in 1674 4
  • James Round, who landed in Maryland in 1677 4
Round Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • William Round, who landed in Virginia in 1715 4
Round Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Joseph Round, who settled in Philadelphia in 1878

Round migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Round Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • G Round, who arrived in Victoria, British Columbia in 1862

Round migration to Australia +

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

Round Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Joseph Round, (b. 1819), aged 31, English engine fitter who was convicted in Birmingham, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ""Blenheim"" on 24th July 1850, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) and Norfolk Island, Australia, he died in 1889 5

Round 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:

Round Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Elisha Round, aged 20, a blacksmith, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Indus" in 1843
  • Grace Round, aged 18, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Indus" in 1843
  • Miss Rose Round, (b. 1861), aged Infant, English settler, from Stafford travelling from London aboard the ship "Sebastopol" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th December 1861 6
  • Mr. Elijah Round, (b. 1825), aged 36, English blacksmith, from Stafford travelling from London aboard the ship "Sebastopol" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th December 1861 6
  • Mrs. Grace Round, (b. 1826), aged 35, English settler, from Stafford travelling from London aboard the ship "Sebastopol" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th December 1861 6
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Round (post 1700) +

  • Samuel Round, American politician, Postmaster at Dover, Delaware, 1792-94 7
  • Charles Herold Round (1901-1968), American Republican politician, Mayor of Traverse City, Michigan, 1955; Candidate in primary for Delegate to Michigan State Constitutional Convention from Grand Traverse District, 1961 7
  • Thomas Round (1915-2016), English opera singer and actor who lived to be 100 years old
  • John Horace Round (1854-1928), English historian and genealogist, translator of the Essex Domesday Book, Historical Adviser to the Crown
  • Derek Leonard Round MNZM (1935-2012), New Zealand journalist and Vietnam War correspondent


The Round 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: Esse quam videri
Motto Translation: To be, rather than to seem.


  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  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. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/blenheim
  6. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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