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

Rierson, 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 Rierson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rierson in America

Rierson is the 32396th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rierson surname appeared 710 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 Rierson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rierson 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 Rierson

The surname Rierson has its origins in Denmark, with roots dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old Norse words "ryr," meaning "a reed," and "son," indicating "son of." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a reed or marshland area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rierson can be found in the Roskilde Domkirke manuscript from 1192, which mentions a nobleman named Thorvald Rierson. This document is a historical record of the church in Roskilde, Denmark.

In the 13th century, a variant spelling of the name, "Ryerson," appeared in the Annales Danici, a chronicle of Danish history written by the monk Petrus Olai. This text references a knight named Niels Ryerson, who fought in the Battle of Lyndanisse in 1259.

The name Rierson has also been linked to various place names in Denmark. For instance, the village of Riersø, located on the island of Fyn, may have been named after an early bearer of the surname. Similarly, the town of Ryersgade in Jutland is thought to have derived its name from the same source.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Hans Rierson (1510-1578) served as the Mayor of Copenhagen. He played a significant role in the city's development during the Danish Reformation.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Jens Rierson (1628-1701), a Danish theologian and philosopher. He was a professor at the University of Copenhagen and authored several influential works on religion and philosophy.

In the 18th century, the name Rierson gained recognition through the work of Niels Rierson (1722-1802), a renowned Danish architect. He designed several notable buildings in Copenhagen, including the Frederiksberg Palace and the Marble Church.

The 19th century saw the emergence of Søren Rierson (1812-1887), a Danish painter known for his landscapes and portraiture. His works are held in several museums and galleries across Denmark.

Lastly, in the 20th century, a notable figure with the surname Rierson was Inger Rierson (1923-2008), a celebrated Danish author and playwright. Her works explored themes of human relationships and societal issues, earning her critical acclaim both nationally and internationally.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rierson

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

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

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

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