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
Labourer 208
Female Servant 60
Independent 46
Tailor 45
Lab 27
Soldier 25
Agricultural Labourer 21
Shoe Maker 19
Hawker 16
Weaver 14
Private 13
Servant 12
Male Servant 11
Pauper 11
Carpenter 10
Pensioner 9
Dress Maker 8
Gardener 8
Porter 8
Dyer 8
Joiner 7
Boot Maker 7
Painter 7
Army 6
Clerk 6

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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