Riley Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Riley Name Meaning: An Anglo-Saxon name meaning 'rye field', 'rye meadow' or 'rye clearing'.

An occupational surname which would be given to anyone associated with the clearing of rye, also an adaptation of the Irish name 'Reilly' which is a shortening of an old Irish name.

Discover how your Riley 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

Riley Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Riley family

Profession Census Frequency
Scholar 1,510
Labourer 269
At Home 202
House Servant 194
Agricultural Labourer 168
Servant 121
Coal Miner 112
Power Loom Weaver 102
Dress Maker 90
Wool Comber 87
Cotton Weaver 81
House Keeper 80
Hand Loom Weaver 76
Weaver 74
Farm Labourer 71
Tailor 68
Power Loom Weaver Cotton 59
General Servant 52
Stone Mason 49
Shoe Maker 48
Hawker 43
Errand Boy 42
Laundress 41
Cotton Spinner 41
Frame Work Knitter 37

Riley Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Riley 100% 156,045
2 Ryley 80% 6,380
3 Early 20% 5,857
4 Earley 50% 5,690
5 Raley 80% 2,333
6 Reley 80% 2,140
7 Reily 60% 1,679
8 Reiley 83% 1,675
9 Rilley 83% 1,218
10 Riely 60% 1,076
11 Railey 83% 1,047
12 Rily 80% 763
13 Reeley 67% 689
14 Orley 60% 639
15 Roley 80% 578
16 Realey 67% 498
17 Airley 67% 488
18 Rilay 80% 407
19 Reely 40% 381
20 Oarley 50% 316
21 Ruley 80% 285
22 Rouley 67% 284
23 Rieley 83% 273
24 Rooley 67% 272
25 Relay 60% 255
26 Arley 60% 234
27 Realy 40% 157
28 Erley 60% 147
29 Raly 60% 137
30 Raily 60% 119

Did you know?

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

Search for the Riley family