Show ContentsRandals History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Randals Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Randals

What does the name Randals mean?

The Randals family name is linked to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from the baptismal name Randel. In this case the surname Randals was a diminutive of the personal name Rand, a short form of various German names with the first element rand meaning shield or wolf. 1

Alternatively, the name was derived from the name of an ancestor as in 'the son of Randolph,' from the nickname Randle. As such, the earliest records of the family were as a forename as in Randle de Arclet, Cheshire, temp. 1290. 2

Early Origins of the Randals family

The surname Randals was first found in the parish of Ladock in Cornwall. "Hay, which was formerly deemed a genteel residence, was successively a seat of the families of Randyll, Tregain, and Bone." 3

In Scotland, the name "occurs frequently in the Register of Cupar Abbey [near Coupar, Angus in central Scotland]. Amongst the tenants in Carse Grange are Ranalds, Ranaldsons, Randalsons and Randalls, or as it is sometimes given, Randal, Randale, Randell, Rendall. There were others about Perth in the days of the Reformation." 4

Early History of the Randals family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Randals research. Another 159 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1436, 1464, 1478, 1570, 1571, 1581, 1587, 1592, 1598, 1622, 1637, 1640, 1664, 1758, 1781, 1799, 1815, 1822 and 1856 are included under the topic Early Randals History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Randals Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Randals include Randall, Rendle, Randal, Rendel, Rendell and others.

Early Notables of the Randals family

John Randall (1570-1622), English divine, born at Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire who was sent at the early age of eleven to St. Mary Hall, Oxford, where he matriculated on 27 Nov. 1581. He was elected a fellow of Lincoln College on 6 July 1587. "On the occasion of Queen Elizabeth's visit to Oxford, in August 1592, Randall was appointed to 'frame and oversee the stage for the academical performance given' in her honour." 5 William Randall (fl. 1598) was an English musician and is included by Meres in his list of England's 'excellente musitians.' John Rendle (1758-1815), divine, was born at Tiverton in...
Another 187 words (13 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Randals Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Randals family to Ireland

Some of the Randals family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 34 words (2 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 Randals family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Randals were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Philip Randall, his wife and their three children, who arrived in Dorchester, MA in 1633; John Randall, who arrived in Virginia in 1635; Phillip and Robert Randall, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1639.

The Randals 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: Nil extra numerum
Motto Translation: Nothing out of time.
  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  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)
  5. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print

Houseofnames.com on Facebook