Rutherfard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland/England
Scotland
Ireland
England

In the annals of Scottish history, few names go farther back than Rutherfard, whose ancestors go back to the people of the Boernician tribe. The first family to use the name Rutherfard lived in the Parish of Maxton, where Rutherford was a town, near Roxburghshire. The toponym Rutherford is derived from the Old English words hryder meaning cattle and ford, a shallow part of a river.

Early Origins of the Rutherfard family

The surname Rutherfard was first found in the Parish of Maxton, town of Rutherford, county Roxburghshire. The first bearers of Rutherfard on record were two knights: Gregory and Nicholas de Rutherford who were listed in the reigns of William the Lion and Alexander II. About the same time, Sir Richard, lord of Rotherford was listed as was William de Rwthirford, a cleric who witnessed a charter by Henry de Grahame. Nicholas de Rothirford, knight, rendered homage to King Edward I of England at Montrose in 1296, as did Margarete la fielle Nicol de Rotherforde who also rendered homage for her lands. 1

Early History of the Rutherfard family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rutherfard research. Another 284 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1165, 1200, 1215, 1249, 1285, 1296, 1361, 1411, 1413, 1448, 1451, 1493, 1506, 1552, 1577, 1580, 1582, 1600, 1661, 1664, 1695, 1779 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Rutherfard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rutherfard Spelling Variations

Over the years, Rutherfard has been written It appears under these variations because medieval scribes spelled names according to sound rather than by any over-arching set of rules. Rudfard, Ruterford, Rudforde, Rudfithy, Rudforthy, Rudforthe, Rudfith, Rudforth, Rudfearde, Rudfarte, Rudfarde, Rudferd, Rutherfard, Rudfart, Rutherfart, Ruddefork, Ruddeforde, Ruddeford, Ruddefithy and many more.

Early Notables of the Rutherfard family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was Samuel Rutherford (1600-1661), Scottish principal of St. Mary's College, St. Andrews, born about 1600 in the parish of Nisbet, now part of Crailing, Roxburghshire. 2 Andrew Rutherford (d. 1664), was a Scottish soldier of fortune, created 1st and only Earl of Teviot by Charles II; and Samuel Rutherford (ca. 1600-1661), a Scottish theologian and controversialist, born at Nisbet, Roxburghshire, educated at Edinburgh University, where he...
Another 73 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Rutherfard Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Rutherfard family to Ireland

Some of the Rutherfard family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Rutherfard family

When these Boernician-Scottish settlers arrived in North America they brought little with them and often had restart their lives from scratch. Through time, much of their heritage was lost, and it is only this century through Clan societies and highland games that many have recovered their national heritage. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Rutherfard family to immigrate North America: Henry Rutherford, who arrived in Connecticut in 1641; Gaven Rutherford, who came to Maryland in 1670; Dennis Rutherford, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1682.

The Rutherfard 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: Nec sorte, nec fato
Motto Translation: Neither by chance nor destiny.

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print