*The outline provided below hasn’t been proven. There is a question as to who Mark Rutherford’s parents are.  In one version - Mark's parents are Ezekiel Rutherford and Sarah Johnson, in another, John T Rutherford and Margaret Tawneyhill are his parents.  Someday I hope to be able to prove which way is right, but for now... check out the outline below, it is very interesting.  It shows 23 generations of Rutherfords - from Robertus dominus de Rodyforde to Mark Rutherford.  Mark is our Grandma Opal’s Great Grandfather.

I received this file and so much information on the Rutherfords from Merrill Price.

Linda Fryberger Ames

The following information was derived from the book by William Kenneth and Anna Clay Zimmerman Rutherford:

   John MacLeod, Searcher of Records in Edinburgh, examined Rutherford family annuals dating back to the Crusaders.  He related that during an insurrection in Scotland, King Ruther had to flee for safety.  Being unable to cross the River Tweed, his life was saved by a young man of Teviotsdale who aided him in crossing at the ford.  The spot was henceforth known as Ruther’s Ford, and the land contiguous to the spot was later given to the family of his benefactor by Ruther as a token of his appreciation.  The family thus became known as Rutherford when surnames were adopted.

   James Coutts, a candid historian, revolted at this venerable legend, but to his surprise he found a portrait of the semi-historic Rutherus among the portraits of the Scottish kings in Holyrood House.  "Still more surprising", wrote Mr. Coutts, "was the date of the reign of Rutherus, put as 231 B. C.  Little wonder that the Rutherfords have been described as ‘one of the oldest families in the Border’." (from the Anglo-Norman Peaceful Invasion of Scotland 1057-1200, p. 133).

   Another romantic version of the establishment of the name was related in a letter written by A. Rutherford of Stirling, Scotland, December 15, 1906, and addressed to George Ernest Rutherford, No. 1852.  "The Rutherfords are not Highlanders, they are Borderers: they belong originally to Roxburghshire.  They are pure Scots, and they drive their name from thrashing an invading English Army.  This incident occurred before the time of Wallace.  The tradition is that an English invading force was allowed to cross the river at the ford, and after they had done so, the Scots fought and defeated them, and drove them back across the ford making the English "rue the ford".

   A fourth story, probably with more credence, was written by James Rutherford Brown of Liverpool, England, April 13, 1909 to George Ernest Rutherford, No. 1852.  He stated there was no doubt that the name Rutherford meant "red ford", an explanation given by Jeffray in his history of Roxburghshire.  Jeffray explained that "ruther", meaning red, was a Celtic word.  Henry Rutherford of Fairnington, No. 960, also thought this to be the more likely origin of the name.

The Coat of Arms of      RUTHERFORD OF THAT ILK

Argent, an orle gules, and in chief three martlets sable, beaked of the second. Crest - a martlet sable.

Motto - Nec sorte nec fato.

   Heraldry is defined as the art or science of blazoning or describing in appropriate technical terms coats of arms and other heraldic and armorial insignia.  The system is of very ancient origin.  In its modern sense, however, the heraldic art dates from the time of the Crusades, and was reduced to its present perfect system by the French.  Today, coats-of-arms are testimonials and warrant of bravery, heroism, and meritorious deeds of our ancestors.

   A coat of arms has four basic parts: the background, or escutcheon; the color of the design or field; the design of thecharge; and the position of the figure in the design.

   The escutcheon of the Rutherford arms is usually in the shape of a badge.  The field contains an orle which is the principal armorial figure of the family.  By some it is taken as an inescutcheon voided; and it is said by heralds to have been used in the arms of those who have given protection and defense to their king and country; for as the bordure defends the figures that are within, so also doth the orle.  It may be thought on that account, to have been carried by some ancient families who were very active in defending the Borders of the Scottish kingdom against the English, such as the Rutherfords.

   The field also contains three martlets, to show that some of the heads of the family had been in the warlike expeditions in the Holy Land, against the Saracens, as these birds intimate. The color of the field is argent, or silver, and the color of the design or chare is a red orle, orle gules, and three black martlets with red beaks, martlets sable, beaked of the second.  The crest, the uppermost part of achievements of arms, is set above the escutcheon on a wreath or bandeau composed of six twists which has the same tinctures as shield and charges, the metal in all cases being the twist on the dexter side.  The Rutherford wreath is alternately siver and black.

   The crest of Rutherford of that Ilk was a martlet sable.  Other branches of the Rutherford family were identified by the crests which they carried.

   The Motto of the Rutherfords of that Ilk, Nec sorte nec fato, is translated as "Neither by strategy nor by chance".

   The Rutherfords are from the Roxburgh District of Scotland.