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Rhoades History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Rhoades History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Rhoades

What does the name Rhoades mean?

Rhoades is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Rhoades family lived in Lincolnshire at Rhoades, but more often than not, the name originates in the West Riding of Yorkshire. 1 The name literally means "dweller by the clearing(s)" from the Old English word "rod(u)." 2 As to confirm this meaning of the name, another source notes "a topographic name for someone who lived by a clearing in the woodland." 3 4 Accordingly, one must dispel the rather obvious assumption that the name was derived from Rhodes, in the Mediterranean Sea. 5

The Rhodes Scholarship is an international postgraduate award for students to study at the University of Oxford that was established in 1902, by English businessman and politician Cecil John Rhodes (1853-1902.)

Early Origins of the Rhoades family

The surname Rhoades was first found in Yorkshire. "Roads is a numerous Bucks [(Buckinghamshire)] name. There are hamlets and villages called Rhodes in Lancashire and the West Riding. A family named Rodes or De Rodes flourished for 500 or 600 years in Lincolnshire, Notts [(Nottinghamshire)], Yorkshire, and Derbyshire: they were descended from Gerard de Rodes, a distinguished Baron of the 12th century. " 1

While we can find places named Rhodes in the United States, Australia and South Africa, we cannot find any in England today, nor can we find Rhoades in Lincolnshire. However, a second source notes the Yorkshire reference as follows: "This was a common Yorkshire entry, and explains the large number of Rhodes in the West Riding Directory." 6

As if to help us through this confusion, one source confirms that the first listing of the name was indeed found in Yorkshire as in Hugh de Rodes who was listed in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1219. A few years later, Alexander de la rode was listed in 1277 in Norfolk. John atte Rode was listed in Bedfordshire in 1294 and Robert del Rodes was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332. 2

Early History of the Rhoades family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rhoades research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1550, 1591, 1663, 1664, 1668 and 1674 are included under the topic Early Rhoades History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rhoades Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Rhoades has been recorded under many different variations, including Rhodes, Rhoades, Rhode, Rhoads, Roades, Roads and others.

Early Notables of the Rhoades family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

John Rhoades, was an early American fur trader from New England, who was part of Jurriaen Aernoutsz's short-lived conquest of Acadia in 1674

Rhoades Ranking

In the United States, the name Rhoades is the 1,880^th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 7

Rhoades migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Rhoadess were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Rhoades Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Robert Rhoades, who landed in Virginia in 1638 8
Henry Rhoades, who landed in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1640 8

Rhoades Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Geo Michael Rhoades, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1767 8

Rhoades Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Isaac Rhoades, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 8
A. J. Rhoades, aged 52, who landed in America from London, in 1892
Anna G. Rhoades, aged 28, who settled in America from London, in 1892
A. Rhoades, aged 30, who settled in America, in 1896
Arthur Rhoades, aged 30, who immigrated to the United States from London, in 1897

Rhoades Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Beatriz Rhoades, aged 1, who landed in America, in 1905
Anita Rhoades, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States, in 1911

Rhoades migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rhoades Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Bertram Rhoades, aged 26, destined for Quebec, in 1903

Rhoades migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Rhoades Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Rhoades, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Rajah" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 6th October 1853 9
Mrs. Rhoades, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Rajah" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 6th October 1853 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Rhoades (post 1700) +

Kitty Rhoades (1951-2016), née Richie, American politician, Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
Darryl Rhoades (b. 1950), American musician and comedian
Matthew "Matt" Rhoades (b. 1975), American political consultant and strategist for the Republican National Committee
James J. Rhoades (1941-2008), American politician, Member of the Pennsylvania Senate (1981-2008)
Kevin Carl Rhoades (b. 1957), American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, the 9th Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend
Kitty Rhoades (b. 1951), American politician, former Wisconsin State Assemblywoman
Rick Rhoades, American former head football coach at Troy University from 1985 to 1987
Barbara Rhoades (b. 1947), American comedic actress, best known for her role as the lady bandit Penelope "Bad Penny" Cushings in The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968)
Jason Rhoades (1965-2006), American artist known for his larger that life statues
John Harsen Rhoades Jr., (1869-1905), American founder of Rhoades & Company in 1905 which would later become Loeb, Rhoades & Co. in 1937
... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Rhoades 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: Robor meum Deus
Motto Translation: Strength through God.

Citations +

Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Hanks Patricia, Flavia Hodges, Mills A.D., Room Adrian, The Oxford Names Companion. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002. Print. (ISBN 0-19-860561-7)
Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. 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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html