Show ContentsRudderman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The vast movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066 brought the Rudderman family name to the British Isles. They lived in the West Riding of Yorkshire at Rotherham, a market-town and parish, and the head of a union, in the north division of the wapentake of Strafforth and Tickhill. The place name literally means "homestead or village on the River Rother," 1 "The town was formerly celebrated for its manufacture of edge tools; and in 1160, there were mines of ironstone, smelting-furnaces, and forges in the neighbourhood." 2 The local was named Rodreham in the Domesday Book. 3

Early Origins of the Rudderman family

The surname Rudderman was first found in Yorkshire where they were Lords of the Manor of Rotherham. Conjecturally they are descended from the Count of Mortain who held the lands and village of Rotherham at the taking of the Domesday Book in the year 1086, a census initiated by Duke William of Normandy after his conquest of England. The hamlet of Rotherham consisted mainly of one single Church.

Early History of the Rudderman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rudderman research. Another 127 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1423, 1500, 1600, 1610, 1630, 1648, 1694, 1696, 1752, 1772 and 1907 are included under the topic Early Rudderman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rudderman Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Rotherham, Rotheram, Rothram, Rudrum, Rudderham and others.

Early Notables of the Rudderman family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Caleb Rotheram (1694-1752), English dissenting minister and tutor, born at Great Salkeld, Cumberland. Sir John Rotheram (1630-1696), was an English lawyer, son of Thomas Atwood Rotherham, vicar of Pirton, Hertfordshire, and of Boreham, Essex...
Another 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Rudderman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Rudderman family to Ireland

Some of the Rudderman family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 32 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 Rudderman family

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Rudderman or a variant listed above: John Rotherham who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1855; followed by George and William Rotherham in 1856; and John Rotherham in 1857.



  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)


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