Irish: often a shortened form of O'Ryan, from Gaelic Ó Riain 'descendant of Rian', or of Mulryan (Ó Maoilriain 'descendant of the follower of Rian'). Ryan is one of the commonest surnames in Ireland. Ancestry suggests Rian is probably based on rí 'king', but Wikipedia says scholars have discounted both the 'king' and 'water' theories. Rarely it is an Americanized form of German Rein or a Norwegian farm name.
Spellings and related forms: O'Ryan, Mulryan, Ó Riain.
Because the meaning of Rian is disputed, the crest skips the meaning and uses Celtic knotwork for the name's Irish origin.
Most surnames have no single "family crest". In heraldry, a coat of arms belonged to one person and passed down one line of descent. Sites that sell "the Ryan coat of arms" usually show the arms of one historic family that shared the name. Ours is different on purpose: an original design built from what the name means, which any Ryan can own honestly.
Blankets: soft velveteen plush (100% polyester), printed on one side; may run up to 3 in. short of the listed size. Rugs: polyester chenille with hemmed edges and a coated backing, for indoor use. Both are printed in the USA (Georgia and North Carolina).
Name meanings come from the sources above, checked 2026-10. Where scholars disagree, we say so.