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

Riddle, 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 Riddle surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Riddle in America

Riddle is the 1036th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Riddle surname appeared 33,507 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 11 people would have the surname Riddle.

We can also compare 2010 data for Riddle 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 Riddle

The surname RIDDLE is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "rædels" or "ridel," meaning a riddle or enigma. This name first emerged in the Middle Ages, likely referring to someone who was known for posing riddles or puzzles.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name RIDDLE can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, dated around 1273, which mentions a John Ridel. This document was a survey of landowners and property holders in England, providing valuable insights into the historical distribution of surnames.

The RIDDLE name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire, suggesting that these areas may have been the original strongholds of families bearing this surname. It's worth noting that the name also appeared in various spellings, such as Riddel, Riddell, and Rydell, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spelling in earlier times.

In the 16th century, the RIDDLE surname gained prominence with the rise of Nicholas Ridley (c. 1500-1555), a prominent English Protestant reformer and martyr. Ridley played a crucial role in the establishment of the Church of England and was eventually burned at the stake during the Marian Persecutions under Queen Mary I.

Another notable figure with the RIDDLE surname was Sir Thomas Ridley (1563-1629), an English merchant and financier who served as the Lord Mayor of London from 1615 to 1616. Ridley was involved in the establishment of several trading companies and contributed significantly to the economic development of the city.

The RIDDLE name also gained recognition in literature with the works of Mark Ridley (1560-1624), an English writer and clergyman who authored several religious texts, including "A View of the Civile and Ecclesiastical Law" and "A Short Treatise of Magneticall Bodies and Motions."

In the 18th century, James Riddle (1736-1765) was a Scottish poet and schoolmaster, known for his works such as "The Tales of the Riddlers" and "The Riddlerian." His poems and riddles were popular among the literary circles of his time.

Another notable figure was Thomas Riddle (1806-1879), a Scottish-born Australian politician and businessman who served as the Premier of Western Australia from 1868 to 1870. He played a significant role in the development of the colony and the establishment of responsible government.

Throughout history, the RIDDLE surname has been associated with various professions and fields, including literature, religion, politics, and commerce, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bore this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Riddle

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

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

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

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