Surname Ritch - Meaning and Origin
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Ritch: What does the surname Ritch mean?
The surname Ritch is predominantly Scottish and is derived from the old personal name "Ricard" or "Richard". It means "Brave Ruler" or "Powerful Leader." The name came from the elements "ric", which means ruler or king, and "hard", which means hardy or brave. The first records of the name date back to the 13th century in Scotland and were also widespread in England. It is a patronymic name, which means it was initially given to identify the sons or descendants of Richard. Like many surnames that were derived from the names of ancestors, its meaning reflects qualities or characteristics of those individuals, in this case, bravery and leadership. Over time, spelling variations such as Ritchie and Richey have also been used. Today, it is used internationally but is still more commonly found in its places of origin. On a similar note, Ritch might have also originated as a nickname—specifically, a shortened version of Richard. It is important to remember that surnames denote familial history and may indicate geography, lineage, or occupation, among other possible connections.
Order DNA origin analysisRitch: Where does the name Ritch come from?
The last name Ritch is most commonly found in the United States. According to the US Census Bureau, it is the 4,110th most popular last name in the United States. It is particularly common in the central region of the country, with the most Ritch families living in Iowa, followed by Illinois, Wisconsin and Nebraska. In addition, Ritch is quite popular in other parts of the English-speaking world, with significant populations of Ritch families in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
Within the United States, the last name Ritch is most popular in rural areas, particularly in the Midwest. This could be attributed to the fact that many Ritch families originally came to America in the 19th century, settling in more rural areas of the Midwest, where their unique last name allowed them to distinguish themselves.
The most famous person with the last name Ritch today is likely Robert Ritch, an ophthalmologist known for his groundbreaking work on treating glaucoma. He is widely considered to be the father of modern glaucoma treatment, and the annual Robert Ritch Lectureship on Glaucoma Treatment currently takes place at Columbia University as an honour to his groundbreaking discoveries.
Overall, the last name Ritch is most commonly found in the United States. It is especially popular in the more rural areas of the Midwest. The most famous individual with this surname today is probably Robert Ritch, a renowned ophthalmologist.
Variations of the surname Ritch
The surname Ritch is derived from the Middle English "rych", an archaic spelling of "rich". This name originates from the Proto-Germanic word "rica" meaning “powerful ruler”. It is found throughout England, Germany, Scotland, and Ireland. Some common variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Ritch include the following:
Rich: This spelling of the surname comes from the Middle English “rych”. Variants of Rich include Rech, Reich, Reiche, Reece, and Rees.
Reich: This is a German spelling of the surname with a similar meaning of “rich”.
Reis: This is an alternate spelling of the surname which is found in some German areas as well as in Portugal and the Netherlands.
Riche: This is a variant spelling of the surname which comes from the modern French word for “rich”.
Rits: This is another variant spelling of the name, coming from the Dutch term for “strong” or “rich”.
Rysch: This spelling of the surname is found primarily in Germany and Austria.
Rise: This is an alternate spelling found in the United Kingdom.
Ritchie: This is the most common surname derived from the original Ritch. It is found in Scotland and Ireland.
Rysz: This spelling is found primarily in Poland.
Rea: This surname appears mostly in Northern Ireland.
Reither: This is an Anglicized version of the German “Reiter”.
Rider: This surname is a variation of the original Ritch found primarily in the United States.
Overall, the surname Ritch has many variations, spellings, and surnames of similar origin. Some are more common in certain areas than others, highlighting the great variety found in surnames.
Famous people with the name Ritch
- Barbara Ritch Siegal: an American actress and singer who has been active since the early 1970s.
- D. Keith Ritch: a Canadian film director, producer, and screenwriter.
- James Ritch: an American voice actor and film producer.
- Mary Ritch: an American costume designer and production assistant.
- Zayn Ritch: an American pop singer and songwriter.
- David O. Ritch: an American-Canadian film and television dramatist.
- Ralph Ritch: a British actor, writer, and radio producer.
- Thomas Ritch: an American business executive who formerly served as the CEO of communication and media technology company SS8 Networks.
- John Ritch: an American diplomat, lobbyist, and executive director of the International Association of Safeguarding Officers.
- Brian Ritch: an American singer-songwriter and record producer.