Rosewel History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe name Rosewel has a long Anglo-Saxon heritage. The name comes from when a family lived in Rothwell, a place-name found in the counties of Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, and the West Riding of Yorkshire. 1 The place-name Rothwell is derived from the Old English words roth, which means forest clearing, and wella, which means spring or stream. The place-name as a whole translates as "spring or stream in the summer clearing." 2 In the Domesday Book, 3 compiled in 1086, each of those places was originally listed as Rodewelle. Early Origins of the Rosewel familyThe surname Rosewel was first found in Lincolnshire where one of the first listings of the family was Robert de Rothewelle who was listed there in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. Later in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls, Johanna de Rothewell and Johannes de Rothewell were listed. 1 Early History of the Rosewel familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rosewel research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1563, 1627 and 1640 are included under the topic Early Rosewel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Rosewel Spelling VariationsSpelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Rosewel have been found, including Rothwell, Rathwell, Rosswell, Rosewell and others. Early Notables of the Rosewel familyDistinguished members of the family include Richard Rothwell, the exorcist, who was born at Bolton (now in Greater Manchester) in 1563. 4 He died in 1627 and was "known
as "Bold Rothwell, the Apostle of the North," and famed as an exorcist, who professed to have wonderful contests... Migration of the Rosewel family to IrelandSome of the Rosewel family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Migration of the Rosewel familyFamilies began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Rosewel, or a variant listed above: Elizabeth Rothwell who settled with her husband in New England in 1654; James and Hesta Rothwell arrived in Pennsylvania in 1685; William Rothwell arrived in Pennsylvania in 1807..
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