Richmond is a masculine given name with origins tracing back to Old English and Anglo-Norman French. The name is derived from the combination of the Old English words "ric" meaning powerful or rich, and "mund" meaning protection.

The name Richmond was initially used as a place name referring to settlements or locations that were either wealthy or well-fortified. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as a town in Yorkshire, England.

In the 12th century, the name gained popularity as a personal name when it was borne by several notable individuals, such as Richmond FitzRoy (1268-1322), an illegitimate son of King Henry III of England. Another early bearer of the name was Richmond Beaufort (1415-1472), a member of the English royal family during the Wars of the Roses.

During the Tudor and Elizabethan eras, the name Richmond became associated with royalty and nobility. One of the most famous Richmonds was Henry FitzRoy, Duke of Richmond (1519-1536), an illegitimate son of King Henry VIII. He was created Duke of Richmond and Somerset in 1525, a title that has since been held by several members of the British aristocracy.

In the 17th century, Richmond was a popular name among the Puritan settlers in New England. Notable bearers from this period include Richmond Terrell (1612-1677), an early settler and landowner in Virginia, and Richmond Jones (1635-1712), a Quaker minister and author from Rhode Island.

Other notable individuals with the name Richmond include Richmond Pearson (1805-1878), a U.S. Senator and diplomat from North Carolina, Richmond Thackeray (1846-1919), an English painter and grandson of novelist William Makepeace Thackeray, and Richmond Brooks (1921-2002), an American actor best known for his roles in Western films.