Ryan Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Ryan Name Meaning: Derives from the Gaelic word 'righ', meaning 'little king'. May have also derived from the Irish word'rian' meaning 'water'.

A popular surname in Ireland, thought to have derived from the forename 'Maolriain'.

Discover how your Ryan ancestors earned their living and spread across the country. Find out more about your family history by using the Free Search box.

Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Ryan Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Ryan family

Profession Census Frequency
Scholar 1,509
Labourer 239
General Labourer 186
Domestic Servant 99
General Servant 86
Laundress 83
Tailor 74
Dock Labourer 58
Coal Miner 57
Dress Maker 56
Cotton Weaver 52
Tailoress 49
Charwoman 46
House Keeper 39
Servant 38
Agricultural Labourer 37
Hawker 36
Shoe Maker 35
Bricklayer Labourer 34
No Occupation 33
Private 30
None 27
Soldier 27
Machinist 26
Cotton Winder 24

Ryan Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Ryan 100% 57,032
2 Rayne 40% 2,616
3 Ryne 50% 704
4 Ryon 75% 603
5 Royan 80% 562
6 Rayan 80% 275
7 Reyan 80% 191
8 Royne 40% 183
9 Ryen 75% 174
10 Reyne 40% 114

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The surname Ryan is the most popular version of all its varients

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