Is there a "Runyon" coat-of arms? We keep coming across different arms that are labeled as such but they can't all be ours.

Each of these arms is legitimate in the sense that they are actual registered coat-of-arms. However, none of them are "Runyon" arms. We all know that the name "Runyon" was created in the U.S. during the mid 1600s when Vincent Rongnion anglicized the spelling of his name. So where do all these arms come from? Hopefully this section will help with the confusion.

de Regnon / Roygnon

This is the coat-of-arms which is most often presented as the "Runyon" arms. It is simply three golden honeybees on a blue background. The device or motto below is "Mel Regi" which is Latin for "Queen Honeybee". This is considered a pun or play-on-words referring to both loyalty to the queen and also representing industry. The Marquis' shield was supported by two lions which were not inherited.

This coat-of-arms is registered under the names Henri Roygnon Sr. and Marquis Henri de Regnon de Chaligny, a family of Nobility during the Middle Ages in France.

Despite the differences in spelling, these two Henri's are assumed to be from the same family (if they are not the same individual) since the arms are registered to both. This family may have been related to our progenitor Vincent Rongnion of the city Poitiers in the provence of Poitou, France but there is NO EVIDENCE of this at this time.

The connection between Henri and our Vincent keeps showing up in various places on the internet. The "Runyon Coat-of-Arms" has even been presented in some nationally published books over the years. Unfortunately, it seems that this assumed connection is based solely on the similarity of surname spellings (Regnon/Rongnion) and because the families lived in the same general region in France. However, there were several other French families besides de Regnon at that time that also had similar spellings to Rongnion such as such as Rougnon, Rognon, Rognin, Rougnion, Roignion. In other words, saying Vincent is descended from Henri is a long shot and should not be considered true until an actual link is discovered.

Hopefully someone doing research in the many small villages of France will eventually find a link between our Vincent and a family in France.

Rognon

This is a coat-of-arms which is commonly sold to Runyon families by various commercial family coat-of-arms suppliers. Actually these arms are registered by the Rognon family of Neufchâtel (found in Normandie, France).

Ronyon

This is the version that Halberts sells. It is registered to the Ronyon family. The arms are colored only in black & white. The mythical animal is a wyrven (dragon from the waist up, serpent from the waist down).
Note: Ronyon (Olde English) - a term of contempt towards a woman; scabby, mangy.
Shakespeare, Merry Wives of Windsor, iv. 2r: "You hag, you baggage, you polecat, you ronyon! out, out!"

Roignon

This coat-of-arms is registered to Jacques Roignon Seneschel de Champagne de St. Hilaire. This is in the same region of France as Poitiers. However, that does not guarantee a connection to our Vincent any more than the de Regnon family.

Roigne

This is yet another coat-of-arms from Poitou. This one being registered to the Roigne family.

So here we have it. Five completely different arms. Which family did Vincent come from: de Regnon? Rognon? Ronyon? Roignon? Roigne? or none of them?

Only time will tell . . .