Rice Surname: Origin and Coat of Arms
What does Rice mean, and where does it come from? Here is a brief introduction.
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Origin of the Rice name
Rice is the English spelling of the Welsh personal name Rhys, "ardour, enthusiasm", a name borne by several medieval princes of Deheubarth in south-west Wales. As Welsh families moved into England and across the sea to Ireland, Rhys was written Rice, Rees or Price, from ap Rhys, "son of Rhys". The surname is common in the Welsh borders, in Ireland and in the United States.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Rice name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Rice name in Wales. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Ireland and England; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Rice family history
Your full Rice pack adds the researched history, early records and migration. Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Rice coat of arms for you.
Rice name FAQ
What does the Rice name mean?
Ardour (from Rhys). Common variants include Rees, Rhys, Price.
Where does the Rice surname come from?
It originates in Wales, and is also found in the United States, Ireland and England.
Is there a Rice coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Rice crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Rice coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.