What does my last name "Ryburn" mean? And what does my family crest and coat of arms look like?
I was told that "Ryburn" was German. But the research that I have done has told me otherwise. It says that it's Scottish, is that true?
Please see the inks below
http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/comconsumerpsst.cfm
http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/Faq.htm
Family Crest is a misnomer for a coat of arms. The Crest is the 3 dimensional character at the top of the helm. Coats of arms do not belong to surnames.
Peddlers who sell them on the internet, at shopping malls, at airports and advertise for them in magazines are spoofers. Don't get taken in by them. Whenever you see a coat of arms on someone's den wall, you can be assured they really aren't entitlted to it. There are no laws in the U. S. regarding heraldry so people can put up someone else's that just happens to have their surname.
You can have one designed and made up and that way you would know that it was yours.
The only way you would know if you had a coat of arms in your family tree is to trace your family history which might take a few years and then you might not be entitled to it.
According to Ancestry.Com the following was given as place of origin by Ryburn immigrants to the U. S.
England 2
Scotland 2
Ireland 1
They give the meaning of the name is a Scottish variant of Rayburn.
The origin and meaning of a surname is not very important in genealogy as the same surname can come from more than one nationality. Also not everyone with the same surname is related.
Anytime you wish to trace your family, there are lots of good people on this board that can give you some great ideas. Just ask.