Rother

1. For the river in South Yorkshire: Probably 'the chief river', from Middle English Roder, from Proto-Brythonic *ro + Old Welsh *duβr.
2. For the river in West Sussex: Back-formation from Rotherbridge.
3. For the river in East Sussex: Back-formation from Rotherfield. Replaced Middle English Liminel, which is cognate with River Limden.

Rother (countable and uncountable, plural Rothers)

1. A surname.
2. A river in Derbyshire and South Yorkshire, England, which flows into the River Don.
3. A river in Hampshire and West Sussex, England, which flows into the River Arun.
4. A river in Kent and East Sussex, England, which flows into the English Channel.
   • 1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 98:

     Burwash, spread along a ridge between the rivers Rother and Dudwell, was an important centre of the iron industry three centuries ago when the Weald was England's main source of iron ore.

5. A local government district in East Sussex created in 1974, which is named after the river in East Sussex.

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Rother is the 15748^th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 1851 individuals. Rother is most common among White (94.0%) individuals.

• rethor, rhetor