Rainbow Coat of Arms
A Coat of Arms sent to me by Edna Rainbow Hackler, author of "Chasing Rainbows"
A Coat of Arms sent to me by Hilda Wyatt and Elsie Sheridan, my gr-aunts
Information on the origin of the Rainbow Family from Family History Society
This information is from a Heraldry site on the internet for which I have lost the link:
The history of this ancient Gloucestershire family traces its ancestry as a family of Norman origin before the year 1100 and appears first in ancient records in Gloucestershire. This completely researched parchment history of the Rainbow family not only includes in full colour the most ancient family name Coat of Arms fut traces the surname origin forward from the 11th or 12th century. This beautifully detailed history includes the Rainbow nobles & titles, the family castles, estates and manors, the battles, wars and fueds they overcam, the branches as they formed throughout Europe, pioneers and settlers and also the notables of this distinguished family who lived during this century.
Rainbow (saxon origin)
Rainbong (saxon, meaning strong, a leader). The name was brought to England by the saxon invaders who settled down in this country. Later the name changed to Rainbolt, but this proved to be a very unhappy name for the Rainbolts during the years of fear and superstition. When there was a violent thunderstorm and a thunderbolt (rainbolt) fell from the sky, the Rainbolts were accused of witchcraft, so again the name changed, this time to its more pleasant name - Rainbow. In the 17th Century the Lords of the Manor at Upton-on-Severn, Worcestershire, were named Rainbow. This line has since died out.