Find out how popular the last name O'Ryan is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named O'Ryan.

O'Ryan, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the O'Ryan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of O'Ryan in America

O'Ryan is the 53667th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The O'Ryan surname appeared 385 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname O'Ryan.

We can also compare 2010 data for O'Ryan to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name O'Ryan

The surname ORYAN is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, with its roots tracing back to the Anglo-Saxon era. The name itself is thought to derive from the Old English word "ora," which means "edge" or "border," and the suffix "-yan," indicating possession or origin.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Ora" and "Orian." This suggests that the name was already in use among the Anglo-Saxon population before the Norman Conquest of 1066.

During the 13th century, the name began to take on various spellings, such as "Oryan," "Orrien," and "Oryane." This variation in spelling was common during that time due to the lack of standardized orthography and the influence of regional dialects.

In the 14th century, the ORYAN family had established roots in several counties across England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk. Records from this period indicate that the name was associated with landowners and individuals of modest means alike.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Oryan (c. 1350 - 1412), a knight and landowner from Yorkshire. He served as a military commander during the latter stages of the Hundred Years' War and was renowned for his bravery in battle.

Another prominent figure was William Oryan (c. 1460 - 1521), a merchant and alderman from the city of Lincoln. He played a significant role in the local governance and trade affairs of the city during the Tudor period.

In the 16th century, the ORYAN surname began to spread beyond England, with some bearers migrating to the American colonies. One such individual was Thomas Oryan (c. 1580 - 1645), who settled in Virginia and became a successful tobacco planter.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the ORYAN name continued to flourish, with bearers serving in various professions and trades. Notable individuals from this period include:

1. Robert Oryan (1625 - 1697), a renowned clockmaker from London.
2. Elizabeth Oryan (1672 - 1738), a prominent Quaker minister and author from Pennsylvania.
3. John Oryan (1710 - 1783), a British naval officer who served during the Seven Years' War.

As the centuries progressed, the ORYAN surname continued to be passed down through generations, with bearers contributing to various fields and communities across the English-speaking world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name O'Ryan

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname O'Ryan.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for O'Ryan was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of O'Ryan has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name O'Ryan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of O'Ryan, please contact us.

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