Map of England showing where the Rhoads arms are recorded
The Rhoads arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Rhoads arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Rhoads Family in England
The surname Rhoads is a variation of the English name Rhodes, which historically functioned as a topographic descriptor for people who lived near a clearing in a forest. The word comes from the Old English term *rod*, meaning a piece of cleared land. By the year 1620, families bearing this name were already established in the city of York, England. During this period, the name was often spelled in several different ways depending on how the local clerk heard the pronunciation. Families with this name were typically involved in local trade or agriculture, reflecting the common occupations of citizens living in the northern English counties during the early seventeenth century. As the family grew, members moved throughout the region and eventually across the Atlantic, carrying the name into new territories while maintaining the phonetic roots of their original home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
rod
Old English term for a forest clearing or a piece of land.
This name
RhoadsA topographical name for someone who lived near a clearing in a woodland.
also spelled
Rhodes
Roads
Rodes
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
York City Archives, York City Chamberlains' Accounts, 1620
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