Show ContentsRitten History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Ritten family

The surname Ritten was first found in Lancashire at Rishton, a township, in the parish and union of Blackburn, Lower division of the hundred of Blackburn. "Henry, grandson of Henry de Blackburn, took the name of Rishton or Rushton." [1]

There are also villages name Rushton in Cheshire, Northamptonshire and Staffordshire. The latter two date back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where they were listed as Risetone. [2]

"The Risctún of a charter, A.D. 854, by Æþelwulf, king of the West Saxons, refers to Ruishton, Somerset." [3]

Ritton Castle was located in Snailbeach, Shropshire, but is now listed as one of the deserted villages and lost places. We do know that is was a Hill Fort in Worthen with Shelve, to west of the Stiperstones Ridge, about 1 hectare in area.

Later in Northumberland, Robert de Riston was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1203. Later again, John de Russheton was listed at Crowland, Lincolnshire in 1340 and John Russheton was listed in the Feet of Fines for Warwickshire (1433-1434.) [4]

Early History of the Ritten family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ritten research. Another 133 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1403, 1407, 1413, 1550, 1578, 1581, 1584, 1585, 1586, 1602, 1647, 1662, 1664 and 1668 are included under the topic Early Ritten History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ritten Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Rishton, Rischton, Rishtone, Richton and others.

Early Notables of the Ritten family

Distinguished members of the family include Nicholas Rishton (died 1413), an English diplomatist, presumably a native of Rishton, Lancashire, and was, like others of his name, educated at New College, Oxford, where he was fellow in 1407. He was one of the English commissioners to negotiate with France on 28 April 1403, and was employed in negotiations with the French and Flemings during the greater part of this and the following two years. [5]Edward Rishton (1550-1586), was an English Catholic divine, descended from an ancient...
Another 85 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ritten Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


New Zealand Ritten migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Ritten Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • H. B. Ritten, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Joseph Fletcher" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 18th August 1859 [6]


The Ritten Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Reviresco
Motto Translation: I flourish again.


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  6. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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