Ritchie
Derived from a medieval nickname for a brave or powerful ruler, from Old English "rice" meaning "powerful, mighty."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 33,727 Americans carry the last name Ritchie. That puts it at #1,217 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 9.84 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 10,163 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Ritchie 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
34K
1 in 10,163
Census rank
#1,217
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
9.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
29K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 29,040 bearers of the surname Ritchie in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 9.84 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1217th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Ritchie, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.5%. The next largest groups are Black (3.1%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Ritchie
The surname Ritchie is of Scottish origin, originating in the Lowlands region of Scotland during the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Old English word "rice," meaning a streak or boundary, and the word "hoh," meaning a ridge or hill. It likely referred to someone who lived near a prominent ridge or boundary marker.
The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the 13th century, with an entry in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented the Scottish barons who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The entry included a "William de Rychi," believed to be an early spelling variation of the name.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various Scottish records, including the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, which documented financial transactions. One notable entry from 1365 mentioned a "John Rychy," who was a merchant in Edinburgh.
The surname Ritchie can also be linked to several place names in Scotland, such as Ritchie in Ayrshire and Ritchie in Aberdeenshire, which may have been the original locations where the name holders resided.
One of the earliest notable figures with the surname Ritchie was David Ritchie (1590-1661), a Scottish minister and theologian who served as the Professor of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh.
Another prominent individual was Joseph Ritchie (1788-1819), a Scottish poet and author, best known for his work "The Philosophical and Literary Class Book," published in 1815.
In the 19th century, William Ritchie (1809-1891) was a Scottish architect and civil engineer who designed several important buildings in Edinburgh, including the Old College of the University of Edinburgh.
Albert Ritchie (1876-1967) was a British writer and journalist, known for his works on World War I and his contributions to several newspapers, including The Times.
More recently, Denise Ritchie (born 1947) is a Scottish actress and playwright, best known for her roles in television series such as "Taggart" and "Scotch and Wry."
These examples illustrate the long and varied history of the surname Ritchie, which has been present in Scotland for centuries and has been borne by notable figures in various fields, from religion and literature to architecture and engineering.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Ritchie
Among Census respondents with the surname Ritchie, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.5%. The next largest groups are Black (3.1%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Ritchie 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 Ritchie surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.5%
- Black or African American3.1%
- Hispanic or Latino2.6%
- Two or more races1.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Ritchie 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 | #1,217 | #1,217 | 0.0% |
| Count | 29,040 | 29,040 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 9.84 | 9.84 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Ritchie bearers went from 29,040 to 29,040 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #1,217 to #1,217.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Ritchie
FAQ
Ritchie surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Ritchie?
The surname Ritchie holds position #1,217 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 33,727 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 9.84 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Ritchie surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Ritchie, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.5%. The next largest groups are Black (3.1%) and Hispanic (2.6%). 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.