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

Rhys, 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 Rhys surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rhys in America

Rhys is the 91221st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rhys surname appeared 202 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 Rhys.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rhys 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 Rhys

The surname Rhys originates from Wales, where it has been documented since the medieval period. It is a Welsh patronymic name derived from the personal name Rhys, which is believed to have originated from the Old Welsh name Res or Ris. This name is thought to be related to the Old Welsh word "rhi," meaning "ardor" or "enthusiasm."

The earliest known recorded instances of the surname Rhys can be found in medieval Welsh manuscripts and records dating back to the 13th century. One notable historical reference is the 14th-century Welsh chronicle "Brut y Tywysogion," which mentions several individuals with the name Rhys.

In the late 13th century, a prominent Welsh leader named Rhys ap Gruffydd (c. 1232-1292) played a significant role in the struggles against English rule in Wales. He was the ruler of the Kingdom of Deheubarth and is considered one of the last native Welsh princes to hold significant authority.

Another notable figure with the surname Rhys was Sir Rhys ap Thomas (c. 1449-1525), a Welsh soldier and landholder who fought for Henry Tudor (later King Henry VII) at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. He was instrumental in securing the throne for the Tudor dynasty and was rewarded with lands and titles.

In the 18th century, Thomas Rhys (1708-1786) was a Welsh clergyman and author who wrote several works on Welsh history and antiquities, including "The Cambrian Register" and "The History of the Episcopal Palace at Abergwili."

During the 19th century, Sir John Rhys (1840-1915) was a renowned Welsh scholar and Celtic philologist who made significant contributions to the study of Celtic languages and literature. He served as the first principal of Jesus College, Oxford, and was knighted for his academic achievements.

The surname Rhys has also been associated with various place names in Wales, such as Rhyspennau and Rhysbont, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the name in different regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rhys

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Rhys.

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 Rhys 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 Rhys 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 Rhys was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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