Surname Rhoades - Meaning and Origin

Sailing Through Time: Tracing the Viking Lineage and Historical Migration of the Surname, Rhoades

Through the lens of an iGENEA DNA test, I discovered the diverse origins of the surname Rhoades, tracing back a multi-layered cultural and historical tapestry. From Northern English woods to the Greek island of Rhodes, from fearless Nordic Vikings to migration patterns enveloping Europe, my surname carries a narrative spanning countries and eras.

S. Rhoades

Rhoades: What does the surname Rhoades mean?

The surname Rhoades is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the Old English “rod,” meaning a “clearing in the woodland.” It was usually given as a topographic name for someone who lived in such a clearing, or as a locational name from any of the various places named with this term. Variations of the surname include Rhodes, Rhoads, Roades, Rodes, and others. It became popular in England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The surname was brought to North America by English settlers in the 17th century, notably among them, the ancestors of the American business tycoon, financier, and philanthropist Bernard Baruch and the American poet, critic, and editor, John Crowe Ransom.

Rhoades: Where does the name Rhoades come from?

The last name Rhoades is a fairly common surname in the United States today. It is originally of German, Dutch, and English origin, and its spelling variants include Rhodes, Rhoad, Roads, and Rhoads.

In the United States, the most prominent concentration of people with the Rhoades surname can be found in the South, particularly in the states of Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Additionally, the last name is particularly common in the Appalachian region of the country and in some of the southeastern states.

In Pennsylvania, the last name can be found particularly in the counties of Lehigh, Montour, Lancaster, York, and Adams. Rhoades is also one of the most commonly found surnames in the city of Philadelphia. In Virginia, the last name is most common in the counties of Henrico, Robeson, Franklin, and Pittsylvania.

In the 2020 United States census, the Rhoades surname was listed as being in the top 500 most common last names in the country. Anyone curious about their family heritage could use online tools like Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org to track down their ancestral records, which could help confirm their place of origin for the last name.

Variations of the surname Rhoades

The surnames Rhoades, Roads, Rhoads, Rhodes and Rhoades are all derivatives of the same name. It is generally accepted that the name originates from the Middle English word "rod", which is derived from the Old English word "hrōd". The meaning of this word is "a clearing in a wood", or more simply - "a road".

Variants of the name include Rhoades, Roads, Rhoads, Rhodes and Roades. As is quite often the case, different spellings can emerge from the same name due to errors made by official record keepers, or even different dialects of English being spoken in different geographical regions.

Roads is the most common variant of the name, and is in fact more common than Rhoades. In the United States, Roads is the most common spelling after Rhodes. The Rhodes spelling is more popular in Scotland, likely due to its influence by the Scottish dialect. In fact, in Scotland's 1901 census, the most common spelling was Rhoads, while Roads was also present.

The most widespread variants of the surname Rhoades are Roads, Rhoades, Rhoads and Rhodes. However, as previously mentioned, there are a number of other spellings of the name, such as Rodas, Rodes, Rhoads, Rohde and Rowds. Each of these can also be found in surname databases across the globe.

Overall, all of these variants share the same origin, and all can be traced back to the Old English word "hrōd". No matter the spelling, families that bear the surname Rhoades can take pride in their roots and contribute to preserving the original version of the name.

Famous people with the name Rhoades

• Ryan Rhoades: US soccer player.
• Robert Rhoades: actor and writer.
• Denise Rhoades: actress.
• Thomas Rhoades: bank executive and former CEO of GlaxoSmithKline.
• Mark Rhoades: American politician and public official.
• Nicole Rhoades: model, actress, and singer.
• Ryan Rhoades: street artist and muralist.
• Chris Rhoades: professional rodeo rider and team roper.
• June Rhoades: American basketball player.
• Nancy Rhoades: Olympic track and field athlete.
• Jeff Rhoades: American art director.
• Megan Rhoades: Australian Olympic rhythmic gymnast.
• Alan Rhoades: actor and producer.
• Melisa Rhoades: author.
• Frank Rhoades: American comedy writer and actor.

Other surnames

RhoadRhoads