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

Ritson, 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 Ritson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ritson in America

Ritson is the 60960th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ritson surname appeared 330 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 Ritson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ritson 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 Ritson

The surname Ritson originated in the northern counties of England, particularly in Northumberland and Durham, during the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old Norse name "Hreiðarr," which means a heathen or a pagan. The name may have been given to someone who lived near a pagan temple or a heathen area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ritson can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1166, which mention a person named "Riston." This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 12th century in the northern regions of England.

The Ritson surname is also mentioned in historical records from the 13th century, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which list individuals with the name in various spellings, including "Ritzun" and "Rytson." This indicates that the name had already begun to evolve and take on different variations by that time.

In the 14th century, the surname Ritson appeared in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Whickham in Durham, where a person named "John Ritson" was recorded in 1351. This provides evidence of the name's presence in the Durham area during the medieval period.

One notable historical figure with the surname Ritson was Joseph Ritson (1752-1803), an English antiquary and critic who made significant contributions to the study of early English literature and folklore. He was known for his efforts in preserving and publishing ancient English ballads and metrical romances.

Another prominent individual with the Ritson surname was William Ritson (1776-1848), an English lawyer and writer who authored several legal treatises and works on criminal law. He was also a member of the Society of Antiquaries of London.

In the 18th century, a family named Ritson owned the Ritson Estate in the parish of Bywell St. Peter in Northumberland. This estate was later acquired by the Surtees family in the 19th century.

The Ritson surname can also be found in historical records from Scotland, where it may have been introduced through migration or connections with northern England. For example, a person named "John Ritson" is mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1502.

Overall, the surname Ritson has a long and rich history, with its roots tracing back to the northern counties of England and potentially even further back to its Old Norse origins. The name has been carried by various individuals throughout the centuries, including scholars, lawyers, and landowners, contributing to its enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ritson

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

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

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

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