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

Ryder, 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 Ryder surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ryder in America

Ryder is the 2544th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ryder surname appeared 14,228 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Ryder.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ryder 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 Ryder

The surname Ryder is of English origin, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "ridere," which means "mounted warrior" or "rider." This occupation-based surname was initially given to those who were skilled horsemen, likely employed as messengers or soldiers.

The earliest recorded instances of the Ryder surname can be traced back to the 13th century, with mentions in various historical documents and records. One notable example is the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a "Willelmus le Ridere" in Oxfordshire.

In the 14th century, the Ryder surname appeared in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire, where a "Johannes Ryder" was listed in 1379. This indicates that the surname had become more widespread and established by that time.

The Domesday Book, a valuable historical record compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the Ryder surname. However, it does mention several place names that may have influenced the surname's development, such as Ryder's Green in Buckinghamshire and Ryder's Farm in Hertfordshire.

Over the centuries, the Ryder surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Rider, Ryder, Ryder, and Ryder. Some notable individuals with this surname include:

1. Sir Dudley Ryder (1691-1756), an English lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench.
2. Albert Pinkham Ryder (1847-1917), an American painter known for his poetic and symbolic works.
3. Winona Ryder (born 1971), an American actress known for her roles in films like "Heathers," "Edward Scissorhands," and "Little Women."
4. John Ryder (1598-1665), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Bishop of Down and Connor.
5. Sir Alfred Ryder (1865-1939), a British businessman and philanthropist who founded the Ryder Cup, a prestigious golf tournament.

While the Ryder surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, due to migration and immigration patterns over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ryder

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

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

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

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