Suthern History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Early Origins of the Suthern family

The surname Suthern was first found in Suffolk at Sotherton, a parish, in the union and hundred of Blything. 1 This local name was derived from the term "the southern" meaning "from the south" and from the Middle English word "sothern." 2

Perhaps Chaucer in his famous Canterbury Tales sums up this surname best "But trusteth wel, I am a sothern man."

Early rolls proved the widespread spellings of the family from ancient times: Geoffrey le Sutherne in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1243; Robert le Sotherun in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1297; John le Southeren in Yorkshire in 1307; Henry le Suthreen in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1325; Hugh and Henry le Sotheron in the Subsidy Rolls of Derbyshire in 1327; Agnes le Southeron in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1327; Richard Sothereran, a Freeman of York in 1352; and Thomas Sothryn in Yorkshire in 1387. 3

Sutherne was a spelling used in Scotland in early days as shown by "Thomas le Sutherne was received to the English king's peace in 1321." 4

Back in England, Yorkshire proved to be a popular county for the family as by the time of the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, we found: Willelmus Sothom; Willelmus Sotheron; Johannes Sotheron; and Ricardus Sothryn as all holding lands there at that time. 2

Early History of the Suthern family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Suthern research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1584, 1660, 1676, 1678, 1682 and 1746 are included under the topic Early Suthern History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Suthern Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Southern, Sotherton, Sotherne, Sotheron and others.

Early Notables of the Suthern family

John Southern or Soowthern (fl. 1584), and English "poetaster, seems to have been born in England, and was doubtless connected with the Shropshire family. He seems to...
Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Suthern Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Suthern family to Ireland

Some of the Suthern family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 106 words (8 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 Suthern family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Isaac Southern who settled in Barbados in 1661; James Southern settled in Virginia in 1635; John in 1620; Leonard in 1670.

Sources +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)