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

Riggan, 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 Riggan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Riggan in America

Riggan is the 19004th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Riggan surname appeared 1,434 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 Riggan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Riggan 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 Riggan

The surname Riggan has its origins in England, specifically in the northern counties of Yorkshire and Durham. It is believed to have emerged in the late 12th or early 13th century, derived from the Old English word "rigg," meaning a ridge or hill. This suggests that the name initially referred to someone who lived on or near a ridge or elevated land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1230, where a person named Walter de Rigga is mentioned. This early spelling variation, "Rigga," provides insight into the name's evolution over time.

In the 14th century, records show the name appearing in various forms, such as "Rigge" and "Rygg." These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and scribal interpretations. For instance, the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379 lists a John del Rigge.

The Riggan surname is also associated with several place names in the north of England, such as Rigganwood in North Yorkshire and Rigg in Northumberland. These place names may have contributed to the surname's development and spread throughout the region.

Noteworthy historical figures bearing the Riggan surname include:

1. Robert Riggan (1590-1672), an English merchant and landowner from Yorkshire, known for his extensive trade with the Netherlands.
2. Elizabeth Riggan (1654-1712), an English Quaker activist who campaigned for religious tolerance and women's rights.
3. Thomas Riggan (1725-1799), a prominent clockmaker from Durham, renowned for his intricate and precise timepieces.
4. William Riggan (1803-1878), a British architect and civil engineer who designed several notable bridges and public buildings in northern England.
5. Margaret Riggan (1865-1932), an English educator and philanthropist who established several schools for underprivileged children in Yorkshire.

While the Riggan surname may not be among the most common in England, it has a rich history deeply rooted in the northern counties, with its origins dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries. The name's evolution and various spellings reflect the linguistic and cultural diversity of the regions where it first emerged.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Riggan

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

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

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

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