|
![Show Contents]() Ryslay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
The ancestors of the bearers of the Ryslay family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found in the region of Risley in Bedfordshire. Ryslay is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. In this case, these place names are all derived from the Old English words hri-s, meaning "brush wood," and leah, which meant "a clearing." Early Origins of the Ryslay familyThe surname Ryslay was first found in Bedfordshire, at Riseley, a village and civil parish that dates back to at least the Domesday Book where it was listed as Riselai. 1 and mentioned at least 6 times, all in the same shire. At that time it was part of the Stodden hundred, land held by the Bishop of Coutances and 2 Frenchmen and 6 Englishmen held 6 hides for the bishop. 2 Risley Hall at Risley, Derbyshire dates back to the 11th century and is now a hotel and spa set in 17 acres. One of the first listings of the name was Sir Raulfe Risley of Chetwood (fl. 1247.) Early History of the Ryslay familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ryslay research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1630, 1649, 1650, 1670, 1716 and 1952 are included under the topic Early Ryslay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Ryslay Spelling VariationsUntil quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Ryslay include Riseley, Risley, Reasley, Reeasly and others. Early Notables of the Ryslay familyDistinguished members of the family include Reverend Thomas Risley (1630-1716), an English Presbyterian minister who founded the Thomas Risley Chapel. Born at Newton-in-Makerfield, and baptised on 20 Sept. at Newchurch...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ryslay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Ryslay familySearching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Ryslay or a variant listed above: C. Risley who settled in Barbados with his servants in 1680; William Risley landed in America in 1760; Tim Risley settled in San Francisco Cal. in 1852.
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: Fato prudentia major
Motto Translation: Prudence is greater than fate.
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
|
