Rotherham

Rotherham is a surname of English origin, believed to be locational. It is derived from the place name ‘Rotherham’, a town in South Yorkshire, England. The town’s name is itself thought to derive from the Old English words ‘rod’ meaning "clearing", and ‘ham’ meaning "homestead" or "village", reflecting the town's historical roots as a clearing in the forest.

The surname Rotherham is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as ‘Rederham’, indicating its early origins. Over the centuries, the surname has been notably found in various regions of England, particularly in Yorkshire where the town of Rotherham is situated.

Famous bearers of the surname Rotherham include individuals who have made significant contributions in their respective fields. It is a surname that carries with it a sense of local pride and heritage, reflecting the longstanding history and connection to the town of Rotherham in Yorkshire.

Today, the surname Rotherham continues to be used by families across the United Kingdom and around the world, serving as a reminder of the historical roots and place of origin associated with this distinguished British surname.

There are approximately 972 people named Rotherham in the UK. That makes it roughly the 7,536th most common surname in Britain. Around 15 in a million people in Britain are named Rotherham.

Surname type: Location or geographical feature

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

  • Andrew
  • David
  • Ian
  • James
  • John
  • Joseph
  • Mark
  • Paul
  • Peter
  • Stephen
  • Thomas
  • William

Female

  • Claire
  • Elizabeth
  • Heather
  • Helen
  • Joanne
  • Karen
  • Linda
  • Ludmila
  • Margaret
  • Mary
  • Nicola
  • Sarah
  • Susan

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

BritishSurnames.uk is a Good Stuff website.