Rice History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Welsh name Rice go back to those ancient Celts known as the Britons that once occupied the hills and Moors of Wales. This old Welsh surname is from the Welshpersonal name Rhys, which also took the forms Rice and Rees. This name was originally derived from the Old Welsh forename Ris, which means ardour. [1]

Early Origins of the Rice family

The surname Rice was first found in Carmarthenshire (Welsh: Sir Gaerfyrddin), located in Southwest Wales, one of thirteen historic counties and presently one of the principal area in Wales, where they held a family seat from very early times.

“Rhys, or Rees (Welsh), Red. A name borne nearly eight centuries ago by Rhys ab Tewdwr ab Eineon ab Owen ab Howell Dda, or, as sometimes styled, Rhys ab Tewdwr Mawr; i. e., Rice, son of Tudor, son of Eineon, son of Owen, son of Howell the Good, or Rice, son of Tudor the Great. ” [2]

The first record of the family in early rolls was found in Saxon times where the mononym Hris in Cambridgeshire in 1052. [1] Rees is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 in Cheshire. [3] The Pipe Rolls of 1178 list Resus filius Griffini in Devon and a few years later, Griffinus filius Res was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Shropshire in 1198, while the same rolls included an entry for Griffinus Ris in Gloucestershire. In Lincolnshire, William Res was recorded in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1203, John Rees was listed in the Feet of Fines for Suffolk in 1288, and Walter Rys was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1327. [1]

Early History of the Rice family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rice research.

Rice Spelling Variations

Compared to other ancient cultures found in the British Isles, the number of Welsh surnames are relatively few, but there are an inordinately large number of spelling variations. These spelling variations began almost as soon as surname usage became common. People could not specify how to spell their own names leaving the specific recording up to the individual scribe or priest. Those recorders would then spell the names as they heard them, causing many different variations. Later, many Welsh names were recorded in English. This transliteration process was extremely imprecise since the Brythonic Celtic language of the Welsh used many sounds the English language was not accustomed to. Finally, some variations occurred by the individual’s design: a branch loyalty within a family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations were indicated by spelling variations of one’s name. The Rice name over the years has been spelled Rice, Rees, Rhys and others.

Early Notables of the Rice family (pre 1700)

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Richard Rice or Price (fl. 1548-1579), Welsh author, son of Robert ap Rhys ap Maredudd of Foelas and Plas Iolyn, Denbighshire. Hugh Rhys (or Rice) ap Thomas (1449-1525), supporter of Henry VII, third son of Thomas ap Gruffydd ap Nicolas of Newton, Carmarthenshire, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Gruffydd of Abermarlais, was born in 1449. When about twelve years of age he accompanied his father to the court of Philip of Burgundy; the two returned to Walesabout 1467.

Rice World Ranking

In the United States, the name Rice is the 146^th most popular surname with an estimated 159,168 people with that name. [4] However, in Canada, the name Rice is ranked the 600^th most popular surname with an estimated 8,405 people with that name. [5] And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Rice is the 145^th popular surname with an estimated 264 people with that name. [6] Australia ranks Rice as 496^th with 7,691 people. [7] New Zealand ranks Rice as 707^thwith 1,008 people. [8] The United Kingdom ranks Rice as 412^nd with 15,822 people. [9]

 Migration of the Rice family to Ireland

Some of the Rice family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 Rice migration to the United States +

Many people from Wales joined the general migration to North America in the 19th and 20th centuries, searching for land, work, and freedom. Like the many other immigrants from the British Isles, they made a significant contribution to the development of Canada and the United States. The Welsh and their descendents added a rich cultural tradition to the newly developed towns, cities, and villages. An investigation of the immigration and passenger lists has revealed a number of people bearing the name Rice: 

Rice Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Henry Rice who settled in Virginia in 1622
• Ann Rice, aged 23, who landed in Virginia in 1635 [10]
• Edmund Rice (c.1594–1663), English Deacon in the Puritan Church, born in Stanstead, Suffolk, who immigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1638
• John Rice, who settled in Virginia in 1639
• Richard Rice, who settled in Virginia in 1650

Rice Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Carleton Rice, who landed in Virginia in 1717 [10]
• Daniel Rice, who landed in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania in 1764 [10]

Rice Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Ally Rice, who landed in New London, Connecticut in 1811 [10]
• Biddy Rice, who arrived in New York, NY in 1812 [10]
• Charles Rice, aged 36, who arrived in Maryland in 1812 [10]
• Canlan Rice, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1816 [10]
• Bridget Rice, aged 6, who landed in New York, NY in 1855 [10]

 Rice migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Rice Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• David Rice, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
• Benjamin Rice, who arrived in Anapolis (Annapolis), Nova Scotia in 1760
• Beriah Rice, who landed in Anapolis (Annapolis), Nova Scotia in 1760

Rice Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• James Rice, aged 39, a servant, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig “Ugoni” from Belfast, Ireland
• Catherine Rice, aged 23, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig “Ann & Mary” from Cork, Ireland
• Ann Rice, aged 18, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig “Ann & Mary” from Cork, Ireland
• John Rice, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig “Betsy Heron” from Belfast, Ireland
• Mary Rice, aged 24, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig “Dorcas Savage” from Belfast, Ireland

 Rice migration to Australia+

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: 

Rice Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. Henry Rice, British convict who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the “Calcutta” in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [11]
• Mr. William Rice, (b. 1796), aged 19, English groom who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the “Baring” in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [12]
• Mr. John Rice, Canadian covict who was convicted in Kingston, Ontario, Canada for 14 years, transported aboard the “Atlas” on 16th January 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [13]
• Mr.Henry Rice, (b. 1793), aged 26, Irish farm labourer who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for life for burglary, transported aboard the “Bencoolen” on 24th April 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia before being transferred to Tasmania via the “Admiral Cockburn”, he died in 1829 [14]
• Robert Rice Mr. settled in New South Wales, Australia in 1823 [15]

 Rice migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: 

Rice Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• William Rice, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship “Bombay” in 1842 [16]
• Mr. Michael Rice, British settler, as the 2nd Detachment of New Zealand Corps of Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship “Minerva” arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th October 1847 [17]
• Mr. Robert Rice, (b. 1836), aged 22, Irish labourer from County Down travelling from London aboard the ship “Strathallan” arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st January 1859 [18]
• Mr. Hans Rice, (b. 1841), aged 21, Irish farm labourer from County Down travelling from London aboard the ship “Zealandia” arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd May 1862 [18]
• Mr. Edward Rice, (b. 1826), aged 36, British labourer travelling from London aboard the ship “Echunga” arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 24th December 1862 [17]

Contemporary Notables of the name Rice (post 1700) +

• Condoleezza Rice (b. 1954), American professor, diplomat, author, and national security expert, 66th United States Secretary of State and National Security Advisor from 2001 to 2005
• Ronald L. Rice (1945-2023), American Democratic Party politician who has served in the New Jersey State Senate from 1986 to 2022
• Ron Rice (d. 2022), American entrepreneur who founded Hawaiian Tropic, an American brand of suntan lotion sold around the world in 1969 with a $500 loan from his father
• Ronald C. Rice (b. 1968), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 1996, 2008; Candidate in primary for New Jersey 10th District, 2012 [19]
• Anne Rice (1941-2021), born Howard Allen Frances O’Brien, an American author of gothic fiction, erotic literature, and Christian literature, best known for her series of novels The Vampire Chronicles
• Megan Gillespie Rice S.H.C.J. (1930-2021), American nuclear disarmament activist, Catholic nun, and former missionary
• Norman Blann Rice (b. 1943), American politician who served as the 49th mayor of Seattle, Washington
• David Anthony “Tony” Rice (1951-2020), American guitarist and bluegrass musician, inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2013
• Kenneth Earl “Ken” Rice (1939-2020), American professional AFL football offensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders, and the Miami Dolphins (1961-1967)
• Dorothy P. Rice (1922-2017), American health statistician, Director of the National Center for Health Statistics from 1976 to 1982

The Rice Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Secret et hardi
Motto Translation: Secret and bold.