Russell Family Crest mug - earliest version

A Russell Family Crest mug is a meaningful choice as a Father’s Day gift and it's also guaranteed to get a happy reaction as a Christmas or birthday present. It's nice to have in the home as a conversation starter to get the kids talking about family and heritage. Not just a mug — an artwork and your family story in your hands. Beautifully illustrated. Carefully researched. Uniquely personal.

The Russell surname was firmly established in England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The family’s foundational ancestor, Hugh de Rosel—originally from the lordship of Rosel in Cotentin, Normandy—is officially recorded in William the Conqueror’s Domesday Book of 1086 as holding hereditary feudal estates directly from the King in Dorset. The ancient seat of this Anglo-Norman lineage was at Kingston Russell in Dorsetshire. Historical documents from around 1224 (8 Henry III) reveal that Sir Ralph Russell was granted official custody of his wife’s extensive baronial lands. The earliest feudal records of Dorset and Gloucestershire explicitly document this original line of "Rossells" bearing the red lion rampant (Argent, a lion rampant gules).

The Russells also exemplify an "Old English" family in Ireland, with their arrival traced back to the initial wave of Anglo-Norman conquests. In January 1177, during King Henry II’s reign, the Anglo-Norman knight Robert de Russell participated in a daring, unauthorised expedition led by the ambitious Sir John de Courcy to seize parts of Ulster. Russell was one of only 22 elite knights alongside approximately 300 foot soldiers. Their rapid four-day march from Dublin took the local Gaelic forces by surprise, culminating in the successful capture of Downpatrick in February 1177.

About the artist

Each coat of arms in the Family Crests Store is an artwork by heraldic artist Éamonn Breathnach. All are carefully researched, drawing from the earliest available records across multiple heraldic archives. Noted for their elegance and attention to detail, these artworks make meaningful and uniquely personal gifts for any occasion with family and friends.

Product details

• High-quality white ceramic mug
• Dishwasher and microwave safe
• 15 oz mug dimensions: 4.7″ (11.9 cm) in height, 3.3″ (8.5 cm) in diameter
  
• Lead and BPA-free material (complies with US and EU safety standards)