Roundall History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Roundall was brought to England by the Normans when they conquered the country in 1066. The ancestors of the Roundall family lived in Kent, at the Manor of Rundale, from whence their name is derived. "Randall, formerly called Roundall and Rundale, is a manor in this parish, which, though at present of little repute, was anciently of some note, as being one of the seats of the noble family of Cobham, where they are Baid to have resided before they removed to Cobham Hall." 1

"In the XIII. century, John de Cobham gave Rundale to his second son Henry, and his descendants were variously written Roundale, Rundel, Roundall, and Rundella, and so lately as 8 Henry VI. the then proprietor of the estate was styled Lord Thomas de Cobham, alias Rundella, Knight." 1 While many of the family emigrated to England, not all did. Lucas, Geoffry and John Roondel were listed in Normandy (1180-1195) and later Stephen Roundel, Geoffry, Hugh and Lucas Roondel were listed there in 1198. 2

Early Origins of the Roundall family

The surname Roundall was first found in Kent where they were a branch of the great Baronial family of Cobham, seated as Lords of the Manor of Roundell in the parish of Shorne. In the 13th century John Cobham gave the Manor of Rundale to his second son. He was styled Lord Thomas de Cobham, alias Roundell, Knight. From this scion many branches descended, many with different spellings of the name Roundell, into the counties of Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. 1

"The Roundells of Screven, in Yorkshire, have possessed Screven ever since the early part of the XV. century, the first recorded progenitor being John Roundel, of that place, 3. Henry VI. [(during the third year of the reign of Henry VI)]" 3

Much farther to the south in the parish of Mabe, Cornwall, "Spargo in this parish, is said by Norden to have been a seat of the Randolls or Rundles; but in this opinion he is supposed to have been misinformed, as their seat was at Trewoon, which is now a farm house, although Spargo is acknowledged to have been their property." 4

Early History of the Roundall family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Roundall research. Another 179 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1422, 1558, 1582, 1591, 1611, 1688 and 1743 are included under the topic Early Roundall History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Roundall Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Roundall are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Roundall include Roundle, Roundall, Roundell, Roundill, Roundale and many more.

Early Notables of the Roundall family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Roundell of Screven living temp. Henry VI, generally understood to be the progenitor the Gledstone branch. His grandson Marmaduke Roundell married Jane Lowe in 1558 and they bore a son William Roundell who died in 1582. His son, another William was juror at the presentment as the Castle...
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Roundall Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Roundall family

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Roundall, or a variant listed above: Joseph Rondall who landed in Virginia in 1651.

The Roundall 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: Tenax propositi
Motto Translation: Firm of purpose.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
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)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print