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

Ritch, 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 Ritch surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ritch in America

Ritch is the 11380th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ritch surname appeared 2,771 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 Ritch.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ritch 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 Ritch

The surname Ritch is believed to have originated in Scotland, likely in the 13th or 14th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "rycc," meaning "rich" or "wealthy." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who was considered prosperous or of high social standing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ritch can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1366, which mention a "William Ryche." This document provides evidence that the name was in use in Scotland during the Middle Ages.

In the 16th century, the Ritch surname appears in various Scottish records, such as the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland (1545-1625), where individuals with the name are mentioned in connection with legal matters or land disputes.

A notable figure bearing the surname Ritch was Sir William Ritch, a Scottish landowner and politician who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He served as a member of the Parliament of Scotland and was involved in various legal disputes over property rights.

Another historical reference to the Ritch name can be found in the records of the Scottish Burghs, which document the proceedings of Scottish municipal councils. In these records, individuals with the surname Ritch are mentioned in connection with trade and commerce in various Scottish towns and cities.

In the 18th century, the Ritch surname gained prominence in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the regions of Argyll and Inverness-shire. One notable individual from this period was John Ritch (1744-1825), a Scottish minister and author who wrote several works on theology and church history.

The 19th century saw the Ritch surname spread beyond Scotland, with individuals bearing the name migrating to other parts of the United Kingdom and even to North America. One notable figure from this period was James Ritch (1808-1891), a Scottish-born Canadian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

Throughout its history, the Ritch surname has been associated with various professions, including landowners, merchants, clergymen, and politicians. While the name may have originated from a reference to wealth or social status, it has since become a well-established surname in its own right, with a rich heritage rooted in the history of Scotland.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ritch

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

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

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

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