Map of England showing where the Rippon arms are recorded
The Rippon arms were recorded in Northumberland, c. 1620.
Northumberland was border country facing Scotland, raided and fought over for three hundred years. Families held their land in return for defending it, and a defending household carried a shield.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Rippon arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Northumberland.
Origin & History of the Rippon Family in England
The surname Rippon is a locative name, meaning it was originally derived from a specific place rather than an occupation or a personal trait. It is widely accepted that the name originates from the city of Ripon in North Yorkshire, where the spelling evolved over several centuries. By the early 17th century, members of the family had migrated north into Northumberland, where they established a firm presence by 1620. During this era, families often moved to follow new work opportunities in agriculture or the growing coal trade that defined the northern English landscape. Because the name was tied to a geographic location, it likely served as a way to identify individuals who had left their home town to settle in new regions. This movement helped spread the name across the northern counties, turning a local identifier into a lasting family legacy.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hrype
An ancient Germanic tribe or people group.
This name
RipponRefers to someone who originated from the town of Ripon in North Yorkshire.
also spelled
Rypon
Rippen
Related arms
Ryponvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
