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Example One reproduced with permission of
John O'Rorke at http://www.ororke.org
BLAZON OF ARMS: Or two lions passant sable, one over the other.
CREST: Out of an ancient Irish crown or, an arm in armour erect, grasping a sword proper pommel and hilt gold.
MOTTO: Buagh (meaning "Victory").
Another: Serviendo Guberno. Translation: "I Govern By Serving"
(alternate translations: "By Ruling I Serve", or "To Serving the Helm").
More Coat of Arms
Example: Two - Three - Four - Five - Six - Seven - Eight - Nine - Ten
Example Two compliments of Pat O'Rourke at PO'Rourke@osc.uscg.mil
Armorial Descriptions:
O'Rorke - (a Sept who were Chiefs of West Breifne, now comprised of the counties of Cavan and Leitrim, deriving their name from RUAIRC, a chieftain, d. A.D. 893. Three of this Sept were kings of Connaught, of whom the most distinguished was Art O'Rorke, King of Connaught, slain (A.D. 1046). Or, two lions pass. in pale sable. Crest - Out of an Ancient crown or, an arm in armour erect, grasping a sword ppr. pommel and hilt gold, motto over, Buagh, i.e. Victory. Motto - Serviendo guberno.
O'Rorke - Sir Brian O'Rorke, knighted at Dublin 3 May, 1579, by Sir Henry Sidney, Lord Deputy of Ireland). Or, two lions passant in pale sable.
O'Rorke - Sir Teige O'Rorke, knighted by Sir George Cary, Lord Deputy of Ireland, 17 April 1604). Quarterly, 1st and 4th, two lions passant in pale sable; 2nd and 3rd , argent two boars passant in pale gules.
O'Rorke - (Cloncorick, co. Leitriml Fun. Ent. Ulster's Office, 1637, Shand Oge MacShane O'Rorke, son of Shane O'Rorke, grandson of Loughlin O'Rorke, and great-grandson of Owen O'Rorke, all of the same place). Same Arms and Crest without the quartering.
O'Rorke, or O'Rourke - (Nantes, France; allowed by Hawkins, Ulster, 1770, to Edmond Roch O'Rourke, of that place, descended from Thady O'Rorke, Lord of Breifne, co. Leitrim, 1470, by Agnes, his wife, dau. of Hugh McGuire, Lord of Fermanagh). Same Arms. Crest - Out of a crown or, an arm in armour erect grasping a sword ppr. Motto - Victorious.
O'Rourke - (Count O'Rourke, in the kingdom of France; allowed by Bryan, Deputy Ulster, 1782, to John O'Rourke, Count O'Rourke, who was born in the parish of Oghteragh, in Breifne, emigrated to France, served as captain of the Royal Scotch in that kingdom, major of horse in the service of Russia, afterwards colonel of horse in France, created a count by King of France, 1771). Per pale or and argent, on the dexter side three lions passant sable on the sinister side in chief a tabby cat couchant guard. to the sinister side of the shield ppr. supporting in a bend a flagstaff or, thereon a pennon gules inscribed with the word "buadh," letters gold, in base a boar passant of the fourth. Crest - Out of a royal crown a naked arm erect, holding a scymitar all ppr. Motto - Victorious.
Above Source: Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Wales; Comprising A Registry of Armorial Bearings From the Earliest To the Present Time, London, England: Harrison, 59, Pall Mall, 1884.
In addition to the Coat of Arms above, another Coat of Arms used by the O'Rourke family of Innismagrath, County Leitrim was:
BLAZON OF ARMS: Or, a lion rampant on the left, and a spotted cat, rampant on the right.
CREST: A hand and dagger.
MOTTO: Buagh; and Serviendo guberno.
