Map of England showing where the Rush arms are recorded
The Rush arms were recorded in Oxford, c. 1533.
Oxfordshire was farming country with the university at its centre, and both produced families of standing. Scholars and lawyers who did well bought manors nearby, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of arms.
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.
Henry VIII of England
Sovereign of the period
Henry VIII of England
1509–1547
Reigning in England when the Rush 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 Oxford.
Origin & History of the Rush Family in England
The surname Rush is believed to have originated as a descriptive nickname or a topographical name in medieval England. It likely referred to someone who lived near a patch of rushes or marshy ground where these tall, grass-like plants grew in abundance. By the early sixteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the university city of Oxford. Records from 1533 confirm that members of the Rush family were active within the local community during this period of significant social and religious change. As the name spread throughout the region, it became associated with families who were deeply rooted in the local economy and civic life of Oxfordshire. These early ancestors helped define the identity of the name long before it began to migrate to other parts of the country and eventually overseas.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Rysc
Old English term for a reed or a marsh plant.
This name
RushA topographic name for someone who lived near a patch of reeds.
also spelled
Russhe
Rusch
Related arms
Bettensonrecorded with Rush, same area
Dowierecorded with Rush, same area
Janssenrecorded with Rush, same area
Walterrecorded with Rush, same area
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
Oxfordshire History Centre, Oxford City Council Records: Records of the Mayor’s Court, 1533
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
horseReadiness to serve king and country
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
horseReadiness to serve king and country
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
