Show ContentsRhind History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Rhind family

The surname Rhind was first found in Perthshire, in the parish of Rhynd. "The name occurs in the Chartulary of Moray early in the XIII. century and it has been variously spelt Rhynd, Rhind, Rynd and Rind. It is doubtless territorial, and derived either from the parish of Rhynd, co. Perth, or from the estate of Rhind, in Fifeshire." 1

As though to underline the same origin, another source notes: "this place, which derives its name, of Gaelic import, from its situation on a point of land at the confluence of the rivers Earn and Tay, was the resort of the celebrated Wallace, who, while meditating the deliverance of his country from a foreign yoke, was often obliged to take shelter among its woods and recesses." 2

George Fraser Black in his Surnames of Scotland, explores the history and lineage in more detail. "From the parish of Rhynd in Perthshire. William de Rynd was a charter witness in Aberdeen, 1342. Although Rynd or Rhynd is now a somewhat rare name in Angus it is of considerable antiquity in that county. Rinds or Rynds figure in feuds with Ogilvies, Guthries, and other neighbors there. Murthacus (Murdoch) del Rynde had a gift from David II of four oxgates of land in the royal hunting forest of Plater and four oxgates of Casse in 1366. " 3

Early History of the Rhind family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rhind research. Another 157 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1342, 1372, 1479, 1728, 1789, 1833 and 1863 are included under the topic Early Rhind History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rhind Spelling Variations

During the Middle Ages, there was no basic set of rules and scribes wrote according to sound. The correct spelling of Scottish names were further compromised after many haphazard translations from Gaelic to English and back. Spelling variations of the name Rhind include Rhind, Rhynd, Rind, Rynd, Rinds, Rynds, Rhinds and others.

Early Notables of the Rhind family

More information is included under the topic Early Rhind Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Rhind family to Ireland

Some of the Rhind family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Rhind migration to the United States +

Scots left their country by the thousands to travel to Australia and North America. Desperate for freedom and an opportunity to fend for themselves, many paid huge fees and suffered under terrible conditions on long voyages. Still, for those who made the trip, freedom and opportunity awaited. In North America, many fought their old English oppressors in the American War of Independence. In recent years, Scottish heritage has been an increasingly important topic, as Clan societies and other organizations have renewed people's interest in their history. An examination of passenger and immigration lists shows many early settlers bearing the name of Rhind:

Rhind Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Good Rhind, who settled in New York State in 1804
  • Good Rhind, aged 23, who arrived in New York, NY in 1804 4
  • Charles Rhind, who landed in New York in 1808 4

Rhind migration to Australia +

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

Rhind Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Rhind, Scottish convict who was convicted in Aberdeen, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the ""Blenheim"" on 24th July 1850, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) and Norfolk Island, Australia 5

Rhind 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:

Rhind Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Rhind, (b. 1860), aged Infant, British settler travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "Matoaka" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd December 1860 6
  • Mrs. Isabel Rhind, (b. 1820), aged 40, British settler travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "Matoaka" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd December 1860 6
  • Mr. Alexander Rhind, (b. 1824), aged 36, British labourer travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "Matoaka" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd December 1860 6
  • Mr. James Rhind, (b. 1844), aged 16, British labourer travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "Matoaka" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd December 1860 6
  • Miss Elizabeth Rhind, (b. 1846), aged 14, British settler travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "Matoaka" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd December 1860 6
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Rhind (post 1700) +

  • J. Massey Rhind (1860-1936), Scottish-American architectural sculptor
  • Alexander Rhind (1821-1897), American Naval officer and namesake of the destroyer USS Rhind (DD-404)
  • William Birnie Rhind (1853-1933), Scottish architectural sculptor
  • John Rhind (1828-1892), Scottish sculptor, father of William Birnie Rhind and J. Massey Rhind
  • John Rhind (1836-1889), Scottish architect
  • James Robert Rhind (1854-1918), Scottish architect
  • David Rhind (1808-1883), Scottish architect
  • Alexander Henry Rhind (1833-1863), Scottish lawyer and namesake of the Rhind Mathematical Papyrus
  • Neil Biron Rhind MBE (1937-2024), English journalist and writer
  • David William Rhind (b. 1945), British geographer
  • ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Rhind 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: Diuturnitate fragrantior
Motto Translation: long-time fragant.


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  4. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/blenheim
  6. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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