Rionach Steward

Rionach Steward was a witch from the Steward family who married into the Gamp family. Her existence is known solely through her appearance on the Black Family Tapestry, which connects her by marriage to the noble and ancient House of Black. She holds no role in the primary narrative of the Harry Potter series.

Almost nothing is known about the life of Rionach Steward. Her name appears on the version of the Black Family Tapestry revealed on the Pottermore website, where she is listed as the wife of Hesper Gamp. (Pottermore) Through this marriage, she became the aunt-in-law of Licorus Black (née Gamp), who married Sirius Black I. This marital connection is her only link to the main Black family line. Her dates of birth and death are unknown.

No information exists regarding Rionach Steward's physical appearance or personality traits.

As a witch whose name appears on the Black Family Tapestry, it can be assumed she attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry or another magical institution, but her magical abilities, skills, and wand type are entirely unknown.

There is no record of any significant possessions belonging to Rionach Steward.

• Hesper Gamp: Rionach's husband.
• Licorus Black (née Gamp): Rionach was the aunt-in-law of Licorus through her marriage to Hesper, who was Licorus's uncle. (Pottermore)
• Sirius Black I: The husband of her niece-in-law, Licorus Black.
• Steward family: Rionach was a member of this family by birth.
• Gamp family: Rionach became a member of this prominent magical family through her marriage to Hesper.
• Black family: Rionach was distantly related to the Black family through marriage.

• Rionach: The name is an anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name Ríoghnach, which means “queenly” or “like a queen,” derived from ríon (“queen”). In Irish mythology, Ríoghnach was the wife of the hero Niall of the Nine Hostages.
• Steward: This is a well-known English and Scottish occupational surname. It derives from the Old English word stīweard, a compound of stīg (“house,” “hall”) and weard (“guardian,” “warden”). A steward was historically an official who managed the domestic affairs of a great household.

Rionach Steward is not mentioned in the seven original Harry Potter novels, the films, or the video games. Her character and name were created for the detailed Black Family Tapestry prop used in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, with the full version later revealed on the Pottermore website. (Pottermore)