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.

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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 3,282
Cotton Weaver 982
Coal Miner 478
General Labourer 367
Labourer 199
Dress Maker 149
Domestic Servant 138
Living On Own Means 126
Cotton Spinner 116
Farmer 104
House Keeper 104
Cotton Winder 102
General Servant Domestic 84
Agricultural Labourer 77
Living On Her Own Means 76
Dock Labourer 66
Worsted Spinner 58
Laundress 57
Cotton Operative 57
Grocer 56
Tailor 55
Woollen Weaver 53
General Servant 52
Clerk 51
Carter 49

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

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

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