Map of England showing where the Ruales arms are recorded
The Ruales arms were recorded in Dorset, c. 1620.
Dorset was quiet farming and grazing country along the south coast. Its gentry were middling rather than grand, but they held their manors for a very long time, and long holding is what puts a name in the records.
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 Ruales 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 Dorset.
Origin & History of the Ruales Family in England
The surname Ruales has deep roots that connect to the coastal landscape of Dorset, England, where early members of the family were established by the year 1620. During this period, Dorset was a bustling region defined by maritime trade and agricultural development. Families living in this area often took names that reflected their connection to the local geography or their specific trade within the community. While the name itself carries a distinct linguistic rhythm, it likely evolved through the local dialect of the seventeenth century as families settled into rural parishes. These early ancestors were part of a time of great social change, living through the transition between the Elizabethan era and the Stuart period. By maintaining a presence in the region, the Ruales family became part of the long history of Dorset’s local communities, contributing to the development of the area through their daily work and social ties.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Rual
Derived from the Germanic elements meaning famous and ruler.
This name
RualesA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Rual or Rule.
also spelled
Rawls
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Dorset History Centre, Quarter Sessions Records: 1620
Mayo, C. H., The Municipal Records of the Borough of Dorchester, 1908
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
