RYKER   COAT-OF-ARMS

There is some controversy concerning the authenticity of the Ryker coat-of-arms. From
J. B. Rietstap's Armorial Genera, Vol. 2, pg. 573, the following description is given:

    "RIKER: Saxony, Holland, New York. Blue with one rose in natural shape, but of silver, surrounded by three stars of gold. Crest is a rose in the center of two horns, one of blue and one of silver."                                                 

In William Armstrong Crozier's book entitled General Armory, pg. 112, is the following description:                                           

    "Rijker, New York.
    Abraham Rijker, New York, 1638 (Holland), Azure, a rose argent between       three stars or,
    Crest - a steel helmet in profile.
    Motto - 'Hilariter' (meaning Merrily)

          


Other sources, such as Colonial Families of America, Vol. 5, edited by Ruth Lawrence and published by the National Americana Society in 1929, pgs. 11 - 14, give a somewhat different description:
                                                                         
    "Arms: Azure, a rose, argent, between three mullets, or,
    Crest: A rose argent between two horns, azure.
    Motto: 'Honor Virtutis Praemium'  (meaning Honor First or Above All)"

[This page was last updated 05/03/01]