Map of England showing where the Robotham arms are recorded
The Robotham arms were recorded in York, c. 1560.
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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Robotham 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 York.
Origin & History of the Robotham Family in England
The surname Robotham is a locational name that likely originated from the landscape of Northern England. It is derived from the Old English words "ro" and "botham," which together describe a person living in a clearing within a valley. By the year 1560, historical records confirm that members of the Robotham family were well-established in the city of York. During this period, York was a major center for trade and religious life, and families with this name were often involved in the local merchant guilds or the skilled crafts that supported the city economy. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Yorkshire, contributing to the development of the region through their work and community involvement. Their presence in the city archives during the sixteenth century suggests that the Robothams were settled, productive members of society who helped shape the history of this historic northern hub.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Rauðr-botm
Old Norse for red and Old English for a valley bottom.
This name
RobothamRefers to a person who lived in a valley characterized by red soil or vegetation.
also spelled
Robottom
Related arms
Robottom, or Rowbottomvariant spelling
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, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Archives: Parish Registers of York St. Michael le Belfrey, 1560
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stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
