The Meaning of the Last Name Rhodes & Where It Came From

Researching surnames can be a daunting task, particularly when the name is common. Fortunately, the history of the surname Rhodes is fairly straightforward.

Meaning

There are two possible meanings of the last name Rhodes. It could be a name for a person who lived in a woodland clearing, or it may be a name for a person born in any of the four English villages called Rhodes.

Origin

The name Rhodes is English. It is thought to have originated in or near Yorkshire.

Variants

Rhodes is the most common spelling of the name. However, the surnames Rhoades, Rhoads, Roades, Rodes and Rhode may share the same origin.

Misinterpretations

The name is certainly not Greek, with no connection to the Mediterranean island of the same name. There is also no connection to the modern English word "road."

References

• The Internet Surname Database: Rhodes
• Ancestry: Rhodes U.K. Name Distribution
• Coat of Arms & Family Crests: Rhodes
• Ancestry: Rhodes Surname