Show ContentsRodman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Rodman family

The surname Rodman was first found in Northumberland where they held a family seat at Roddam Hall since 1296 when William Roddam had the hall built. "Roddam Hall is a handsome modern mansion, standing on a bold eminence which on the north forms the bank of a deep romantic dell watered by a tributary of the Till. A stone coffin and an urn were dug up here in 1796." 1

John of Roddam held land in Little Houghton in 1337. The Roddam family has held the hall until at least 1776 when it was owned by Admiral Robert Roddam (1719-1808).

Roddam is derived from the Old English word "rod" which means "clearing" 2. Alternatively, the name could have been derived from the place name Rodden in Shropshire. There is also a Rodden River in Shropshire.

Early History of the Rodman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rodman research. Another 127 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1461, 1491, 1591, 1755 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Rodman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rodman Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Roddam, Rodden, Roddan, Roddin, Rodan and others.

Early Notables of the Rodman family

Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Rodman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rodman Ranking

In the United States, the name Rodman is the 4,990th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Rodman family to Ireland

Some of the Rodman family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 89 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Rodman migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rodman Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Rodman, who arrived in Newport, Rhode Island in 1675 4
  • Mary Rodman, who arrived in Maryland in 1677 4
Rodman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Simon Rodman, who landed in Massachusetts in 1753 4
Rodman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Rodman, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1871 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Rodman (post 1700) +

  • Gilbert Rodman (1800-1862), American Pennsylvania attorney and government official
  • William Blount Rodman (1817-1893), American lawyer and politician
  • Halsey Rodman (b. 1973), American artist
  • Robert Rodman, American professor of computer science at North Carolina State University
  • Samuel Jacob Rodman (b. 1898), American double-agent during World War II
  • John Rodman (1775-1847), American lawyer and politician
  • Isaac Peace Rodman (1822-1862), American Rhode Island banker and politician, and a Union Army brigadier general
  • James Albert Rodman (d. 1961), American Republican politician, Real estate developer; Delegate to Nebraska State Constitutional Convention, 1919-20; Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Oregon, 1948 5
  • Francis A. Rodman (1829-1888), American Republican politician, Secretary of State of Missouri, 1865-71 5
  • Estelle Rodman, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1952 5
  • ... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Rodman 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 deficit alter
Motto Translation: Another succeeds.


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  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. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 5) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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