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

Ribble, 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 Ribble surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ribble in America

Ribble is the 17541st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ribble surname appeared 1,604 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Ribble.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ribble 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 Ribble

The surname Ribble is of English origin, specifically from the county of Lancashire in the northwest of England. The name is derived from the River Ribble, a major waterway that flows through the region. It is believed to have evolved from the Old English word "ripel," meaning "ripe" or "streaked," referring to the rippled or streaked appearance of the river's waters.

The earliest known record of the surname Ribble dates back to the 13th century, appearing in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire in 1246 as "de Ribbell." This indicates that the name was initially used as a locational surname, referring to someone who lived near or by the River Ribble.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several entries mentioning places along the River Ribble, such as Ribblecaster (now Ribchester) and Ribbleham (now Ribbesford). These place names suggest that the river and the associated surname have a long history in the region.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Ribble was John Ribble, who was born around 1480 in Lancashire. He was a prominent landowner and farmer in the area. Another notable figure was Robert Ribble (1586-1661), a member of the English gentry and a supporter of the Royalist cause during the English Civil War.

In the 17th century, the Ribble family established themselves in the village of Ribchester, which lies along the banks of the River Ribble. This connection to the place name further solidified the surname's association with the river and the region.

Other notable individuals with the surname Ribble include:

1. William Ribble (1682-1754), a wealthy merchant and landowner in Lancashire.
2. Elizabeth Ribble (1710-1782), an influential philanthropist and patron of the arts in Lancashire.
3. Richard Ribble (1761-1824), a renowned horticulturist and botanist who contributed significantly to the development of garden design in England.
4. James Ribble (1820-1892), an influential industrialist and textile manufacturer in Lancashire during the Industrial Revolution.
5. Mary Ribble (1875-1962), a pioneering woman in the field of education, who established several schools in the Lancashire region.

The surname Ribble has maintained a strong association with the county of Lancashire and the River Ribble throughout its history. While it may not be a widely known surname globally, it carries a rich local heritage and connection to the landscapes and communities of northwest England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ribble

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

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

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

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