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

Risher, 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 Risher surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Risher in America

Risher is the 12059th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Risher surname appeared 2,586 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 Risher.

We can also compare 2010 data for Risher 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 Risher

The surname RISHER is of English origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "riscere," which means a rushmaker or a person who made baskets, mats, and other items from rushes.

The name was initially concentrated in the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, where the marshlands and wetlands provided an ideal environment for the growth of rushes. The earliest recorded instance of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a Robert le Rysshers is mentioned.

During the medieval period, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Rysshers, Rissher, and Ryscher. These variations were due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time and the influence of regional dialects.

One notable historical reference to the RISHER name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a landowner named Ricardus le Rischer is recorded as holding lands in Lincolnshire.

In the 16th century, the RISHER surname began to spread beyond its traditional heartlands, with records showing individuals bearing the name in other parts of England. One such example is John Risher, born in 1542 in Berkshire, who was a prominent merchant and landowner.

During the 17th century, the RISHER name gained further recognition with the rise of William Risher (1623-1691), a renowned Puritan minister who played a significant role in the religious and political affairs of his time.

Another notable figure was Sarah Risher (1682-1756), a renowned poet and writer who gained recognition for her works on religious themes.

In the 18th century, the RISHER surname continued to be associated with various professions and trades. One such individual was Thomas Risher (1714-1783), a respected farmer and landowner in Gloucestershire.

The 19th century saw the RISHER name spread further across the English-speaking world, with individuals bearing the surname emigrating to the United States, Canada, and other parts of the British Empire. One notable figure from this period was James Risher (1844-1921), a successful businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of his local community in Pennsylvania.

Throughout its history, the RISHER surname has been associated with various place names, including Rishergate in Lincolnshire and Rishertown in Yorkshire, both of which derive their names from the presence of rushmakers in these areas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Risher

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

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

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

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