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

Rye, 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 Rye surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rye in America

Rye is the 8128th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rye surname appeared 4,079 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 Rye.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rye 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 Rye

The surname RYE is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the Old English word "ryge" meaning rye, a type of cereal grain. The name likely originated as a topographic surname, referring to someone who lived near rye fields or areas where rye was cultivated.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname RYE can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Norman conquest of England. The Domesday Book mentions several individuals with variations of the name, such as Rye, Rie, and Rye-man.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, including Rye, Rie, and Ry. One notable bearer of the name was William Rye, who was recorded as a landowner in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273.

During the 14th century, the surname continued to evolve, with spellings like Rye, Ry, and Rie being commonly found in records. In 1379, a John Rye was listed in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire.

The 16th century saw the surname being used in various parts of England, with several notable individuals bearing the name. One such person was Sir Thomas Rye (1505-1565), who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1558.

In the 17th century, the surname was well-established in various regions of England, with bearers of the name found in counties such as Norfolk, Suffolk, and Kent. One notable individual from this period was Nathaniel Rye (1630-1670), an English minister and author.

The 18th century saw the surname continuing to be prominent in England, with several individuals achieving notable positions. One such person was William Brenchley Rye (1748-1824), an English topographer and antiquarian.

In the 19th century, the surname RYE continued to be found throughout England, with several individuals making significant contributions in various fields. One notable bearer of the name was Walter Rye (1843-1929), an English historian and genealogist.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rye

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

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

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

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