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Rhodes History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Rhodes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

Etymology of Rhodes

What does the name Rhodes mean?

The history of the Rhodes family name begins after the Norman Conquest of 1066. They 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 Rhodes family

The surname Rhodes 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 Rhodes family

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

Rhodes Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names tend to be marked by an enormous number of spelling variations. This is largely due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any spelling rules when Norman French was introduced in the 11th century. The languages of the English courts at that time were French and Latin. These various languages mixed quite freely in the evolving social milieu. The final element of this mix is that medieval scribes spelled words according to their sounds rather than any definite rules, so a name was often spelled in as many different ways as the number of documents it appeared in. The name was spelled Rhodes, Rhoades, Rhode, Rhoads, Roades, Roads and others.

Early Notables of the Rhodes family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Hugh Rhodes (fl. 1550), an English author of the 'Book of Nurture,' 'born and bred in' Devonshire, a gentleman of the king's chapel. 7
Richard Rhodes (died 1668), was an English poet and dramatist, son of a gentleman in London. He was author of 'Flora's Vagaries,' a comedy, publicly acted by the students of Christ Church in their com...

Rhodes World Ranking

In the United States, the name Rhodes is the 297^th most popular surname with an estimated 92,019 people with that name. 8 However, in Australia, the name Rhodes is ranked the 641^st most popular surname with an estimated 6,081 people with that name. 9 And in New Zealand, the name Rhodes is the 390^th popular surname with an estimated 1,672 people with that name. 10 The United Kingdom ranks Rhodes as 339^th with 18,258 people. 11

Rhodes migration to the United States +

Because of the political and religious discontent in England, families began to migrate abroad in enormous numbers. Faced with persecution and starvation at home, the open frontiers and generally less oppressive social environment of the New World seemed tantalizing indeed to many English people. The trip was difficult, and not all made it unscathed, but many of those who did get to Canada and the United States made important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers with Rhodes name or one of its variants:

Rhodes Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Henry Rhodes, who arrived in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1643 12
Africa Rhodes, who arrived in Virginia in 1650 12
Elizabeth Rhodes, who landed in Maryland in 1651-1652 12
John Rhodes, who landed in Maryland in 1651 12
Abraham Rhodes, who landed in Maryland in 1673 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rhodes Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Rhodes, who settled in Maryland in 1774
William Rhodes, who arrived in New York in 1789 12

Rhodes Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas Rhodes, aged 27, who landed in New York in 1812 12
Joshua Rhodes, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 12
Mary Rhodes, who arrived in New York in 1845 12
Jane Rhodes, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 12
Ellen Rhodes, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rhodes migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rhodes Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Gilbert Rhodes, who arrived in Victoria, British Columbia in 1862

Rhodes migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Rhodes Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Richard Rhodes, British Convict who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
Mr. Robert Rhodes, English convict who was convicted in East Riding, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" in May 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
Mr. Robert Rhodes, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 27th October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 15
Mr. Joseph Rhodes, (b. 1798), aged 25, British weaver who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Competitor"18th March 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1869 16
Samuel Rhodes, English convict from Surrey, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 17, 1823, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 17
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rhodes Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century

"Mrs. Betty Rhodes, (b. 1790), aged 38, English servant who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 14 years for stealing, transported aboard the ""Competitor"" on 9th June 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, listed with children aboard the ship" 18

Rhodes 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:

Rhodes Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Richard Rhodes, aged 29, a farm labourer, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Lady Nugent" in 1841
R. Rhodes, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Lady Nugent" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 17th March 1841 19
Mr. Israel Rhodes, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "George Fyffe" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 7th November 1842 19
Mrs. Martha Rhodes, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "George Fyffe" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 7th November 1842 19
Richard Rhodes, aged 31, a joiner, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "George Fyfe" in 1842
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Rhodes (post 1700) +

Michael Rhodes (1953-2023), American bass player, known for his session work and touring in support of other artists, inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2019
Grandon Rhodes (1904-1987), American actor, known for Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956), Tripoli (1950) and Born Yesterday (1950)
Emitt Lynn Rhodes (1950-2020), American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and recording engineer
Frank Harold Trevor Rhodes (1926-2020), English-born, American academic, ninth president of Cornell University from 1977 to 1995
Eugene Stephen Rhodes (1927-2018), American basketball player and coach from Louisville, Kentucky
Dusty Rhodes (1945-2015), ring name of Virgil Riley Runnels Jr., an American professional wrestler and trainer, three-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, inducted into the WWE, WCW, Professional Wrestling, and Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
Arthur Lee Rhodes Jr. (b. 1969), American former Major League Baseball left-handed relief pitcher who played from 1991 to 2011
Richard Lee Rhodes (b. 1937), American journalist, historian, and author awarded the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction
Cynthia Rhodes (b. 1956), American actress, singer and dancer
Ida Rhodes (1900-1986), American mathematician and pioneer in the analysis of systems of programming
... (Another 122 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Rhodes family +

HMS Hood

Mr. John Rhodes (b. 1916), English Steward serving for the Royal Navy from Bulwell, Nottinghamshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 20

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Christopher Caleb Rhodes (b. 1920), English Able Seaman from England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 21

USS Arizona

Mr. Mark Alexander Rhodes, American Seaman First Class from North Carolina, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 22
Mr. Birb Richard Rhodes, American Fireman Second Class from Tennessee, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 22

USS Indianapolis

Vernon Lee Rhodes, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 23

Vimy Ridge

Ralph Viking Rhodes (1890-1917), Canadian farmer, Lance Corporal in the 44th Battalion from Manitoba who died at Vimy Ridge March 1917

The Rhodes 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)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/competitor
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Albion voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1823 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1823
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/competitor
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew