Surname Richie - Meaning and Origin

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Personal discovery brought forth by a iGENEA DNA test has imbued the Richie surname with an enriched sense of heritage and identity. The test has unraveled the Celtic roots of the Richie family, widespread family ties across Europe, and ties to a historic lineage via a unique haplogroup. The results have transformed the once ordinary Richie surname into a symbol of strength, resilience, and perseverance.

Y. Richie

Richie: What does the surname Richie mean?

The surname Richie is of Scottish origin and is a variant of the surname Ritchie. It is derived from the personal name Richard, which means “powerful” or "strong ruler". This name was popular among the Normans and was introduced to Scotland during the period of Norman influence. The Richie and Ritchie surnames are found predominantly in North East Scotland, in particular Aberdeenshire and Angus. Over time, various spelling forms including Riche, Ritchie, Ritche and others were adopted due to various factors such as illiteracy and regional dialects. Despite its beginnings as a personal name, over the centuries it evolved into a family surname. The traditional coat of arms for the Richie surname illustrates a silver color shield with three red shields depicted on it. As a surname, Richie also belongs to several notable figures, such as musician Lionel Richie and TV personality Nicole Richie.

Richie: Where does the name Richie come from?

The last name Richie is most commonly found in the United States, Ireland, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. In the United States, Richie is very popular in several states, particularly those in New England. For example, in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, Richie is among the top hundred last names. Outside of the US, Richie is particularly common in Scotland, where it ranks among the top ten last names, and in Northern Ireland, where it is the 24th most common last name. Other countries in which Richie is common include Canada, where it is the 116th most common last name, Australia, where it is the 365th most common last name, and New Zealand, where it is the 528th most common last name. Richie is also found in countries such as Germany, France, Norway, Switzerland, and Sweden.

Variations of the surname Richie

The surname Richie is an anglicised version of several different Gaelic surnames. It is most commonly derived from the Gaelic surname "MacRiche" and originated in Scotland.

The variants, spellings and surnames of similar origin for MacRiche include MacRitchie, MacRitchy, Richy, Ritchy, Richi, Ritchi, MacRichie, Richey, Richy, Riche, Ryschich, Ryechie, Ricci, Reiche, MacReiche, MacRyechie, and MacRychi.

The Gaelic surname MacRiche comes from the personal name Righ or Ris, meaning “king” or “head”, and was commonly given to the leader or chief of a tribe. Some variants may also have been taken from the Old Norse word, "Riki", meaning “powerful” or “strong”.

The spelling of the surname may have been altered over time. In some cases, the original spelling was changed to better fit with local pronunciation, or the addition of a suffix such as "Ac" or "Mac".

In England, the name Riche or Richie may also have been derived the French surname "Le Richet" (Previous to the Norman Invasion, the naming system in England was largely of a Gaelic or Norse nature).

The surname Richie is a common surname in Scotland and Northern England, although it can be found with pockets of significances in other countries with strong Scottish or Irish populations. Notably, the word "Richie" can also be found as a given name in itself.

Famous people with the name Richie

• Lionel Richie: Music singer and songwriter. Has topped the charts with classics such as “Hello” and “All Night Long”. Has won several Grammy and American Music Awards.
• Nicole Richie: Actress and Fashion designer. Daughter of Lionel Richie. Known for her role on “The Simple Life” and her appearances on various reality shows.
• Sofia Richie: Model and Television Personality. Daughter of Lionel Richie. Has modeled for fashion brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and Michael Kors.
• Miles Richie: Musician, model and entrepreneur. Son of Lionel Richie. Has released music independently and collaborated with other artists.
• Sofia Richie: Musician, actress and songwriter. Daughter of Lionel Richie. Has collaborated with musicians such as Jacob Latimore and has released several EPs.
• Peter Richie: Writer, producer and songwriter. Collaborated with artists such as Pharrell Williams.
• Mimi Richie: Singer. Released multiple singles including the award-winning “Be Mine” in 2011.
• Megan Richie: Model and social media influencer. Daughter of Lionel Richie. Has appeared in music videos and campaigns for various fashion brands.
• Zack Richie: Musician and songwriter. Son of Lionel Richie. Has released multiple albums and music videos.

Other surnames

Richison