Coat of Arms

The Ryan Coat of Arms, below, was drawn by an heraldic artist from information officially recorded in ancient heraldic archives. Documentation for the Ryan Coat of design can be found in Burke's Encyclopedia of Heraldry, 1844. Heraldic artists of old developed their own unique language to describe an individual Coat of Arms.

Blazon of Arms

"Gules. Three griffins' head erased or."

When translated the blazon describes the original colors of the Ryan Arms and Crest as it appeared centuries ago:

Red (shield). Three griffens with raised heads, gold.

The Crest

Above the shield and helmet is the Crest which is described as:

"A griffin segreant azure, holding a sword erect proper."

Family Motto:

Family mottos are believed to have originated as battle cries in medieval times.

The Ryan family motto is

'Malo More Quam Foedari',

which, when translated, means

'I would Rather Die than be Disgraced'. or, more usually, 'Death before Dishonour'