Rothwel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Rothwel belongs to the early history of Britain, it's origins lie with the Anglo-Saxons. It is a product of their having 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 Rothwel family

The surname Rothwel 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 Rothwel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rothwel research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1563, 1627 and 1640 are included under the topic Early Rothwel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rothwel 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 Rothwel include Rothwell, Rathwell, Rosswell, Rosewell and others.

Early Notables of the Rothwel family

Distinguished 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 with demons
Rothwell ; none of your Le'er-edge Rothwells, but a descendant of him that beat the devil.' " (Annals of Bolton)

Migration of the Rothwel family to Ireland

Some of the Rothwel family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 43 words (3 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 Rothwel 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 Rothwel were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: 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..

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.