Riske
A surname potentially derived from a geographical name or location.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 857 Americans carry the last name Riske. That puts it at #31,068 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.25 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 399,947 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Riske surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
857
1 in 399,947
Census rank
#31,068
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
747
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 747 bearers of the surname Riske in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.25 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 31068th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Riske, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Riske
The surname Riske is believed to have originated in Germany, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Old German word "risc," which means "rush" or "reed." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a reed bed or worked with rushes.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Riske surname can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of medieval documents from Saxony, where a certain "Henricus Riske" is mentioned in a record from the year 1347. This indicates that the name was already in use by the 14th century.
In the 15th century, the Riske name appears in the records of the city of Lübeck, a prominent Hanseatic port in northern Germany. A merchant named Johann Riske is documented as having traded goods between Lübeck and other Baltic cities in the 1460s.
During the 16th century, the Riske surname spread to other regions of Germany, including Pomerania and Brandenburg. In 1587, a man named Hans Riske is recorded as having been a landowner in the village of Groß Raddow, near the city of Stettin (now Szczecin, Poland).
One notable figure with the Riske surname was Johann Christoph Riske, a German composer and organist who lived from 1670 to 1746. He served as the court organist in the Prussian city of Königsberg (now Kaliningrad, Russia) and composed numerous works for organ and other instruments.
In the 19th century, the Riske name can be found in various regions of Germany, including Saxony, Silesia, and the Rhineland. A prominent individual from this period was Carl Gustav Riske (1820-1889), a German lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Reichstag, the imperial parliament of Germany.
Other notable individuals with the Riske surname throughout history include Friedrich Riske (1842-1919), a German architect and urban planner who designed several buildings in Berlin, and Elfriede Riske (1915-2003), a German actress and singer who appeared in numerous films and stage productions during the mid-20th century.
While the Riske surname has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through emigration and migration. However, the core of its history and origins can be traced back to the German lands, where it likely originated as a descriptive name for those living near reed beds or working with rushes.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Riske
Among Census respondents with the surname Riske, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Riske bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Riske surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.7%
- Hispanic or Latino2.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Riske surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #31,068 | #31,068 | 0.0% |
| Count | 747 | 747 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Riske bearers went from 747 to 747 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #31,068 to #31,068.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Riske
FAQ
Riske surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Riske?
The surname Riske holds position #31,068 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 857 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.25 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Riske surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Riske, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.