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

Riar, 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 Riar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Riar in America

Riar is the 113155th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Riar surname appeared 155 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 Riar.

The history of the last name Riar

The surname RIAR originated in Scotland during the late medieval period. It is derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "riar" meaning "to satisfy" or "to please". The name likely referred to someone who was responsible for ensuring the satisfaction of others, possibly in a position of service or hospitality.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname RIAR can be found in the Scottish Clan Chattan, a confederation of clans in the Scottish Highlands. The name appears in records from the 15th century, suggesting its use by members of this clan system.

In the 16th century, a notable bearer of the surname RIAR was John Riar, a Scottish scholar and theologian born in 1520. He was known for his contributions to the Protestant Reformation in Scotland and his writings on religious topics.

The RIAR surname also has historical ties to the Scottish Borders region, where it was found in various local records and documents from the 17th and 18th centuries. Some of these records include references to places with similar names, such as Riarholme and Riarlands, which may have influenced the development of the surname.

In the 19th century, a prominent individual with the RIAR surname was William Riar (1820-1892), a Scottish businessman and entrepreneur who played a significant role in the development of the textile industry in Glasgow.

Another notable bearer of the RIAR surname was Margaret Riar (1865-1948), a Scottish author and poet who wrote extensively about the cultural traditions and landscapes of the Scottish Highlands.

Among other historical figures with the surname RIAR was Robert Riar (1790-1862), a Scottish politician and landowner who served as a member of the British Parliament for several years in the early 19th century.

While the RIAR surname is not among the most common Scottish surnames, it has persisted throughout history and continues to be associated with its Scottish origins and connections to the Highlands and Borders regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Riar

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

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 Riar 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.

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

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

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