Surname Ritchie - Meaning and Origin

Unearthing Ancestry and Anecdotes: The Rich Scottish Heritage of the Surname Ritchie through iGENEA DNA Test

Delving deep into the historical tapestry of my lineage, my iGENEA DNA test unveiled a captivating narrative about my surname, Ritchie. Originating from Scotland, the Ritchie surname wove a tale of warriors, scholars, and statesmen who left an indelible mark on Scotland's history. Tracing my roots back to the British Isles and linking me to pivotal moments of Scottish resistance, the revelations make me proud to carry on the Ritchie legacy.

B. Ritchie

Ritchie: What does the surname Ritchie mean?

The surname Ritchie is primarily of Scottish origin and is derived from the personal name "Richard." In Old German, Richard means 'powerful' or 'strong ruler,' which was later transformed into Ritchie in Scotland. Over time it evolved into a surname and was given to descendants of individuals named Richard. It may also derive from a patronymic form of the pre-existing surname Richie. In certain cases, it can be of Irish origin, where it is an anglicized form of the Gaelic Ó Ríodha, meaning the descendant of Ríodh, a byname meaning ‘reddish complexion’ or ‘ruddy’.-in Scotland, the name is particularly common in the northern and northeastern regions of the country. Like many surnames, its specific origins can be challenging to trace due to its age and the various spelling variants (Ritchey, Richey, Richie, etc.).

Ritchie: Where does the name Ritchie come from?

The last name Ritchie is a very common and also a relatively old Scottish surname. It is believed to have been first established as a family name in Perthshire during the 13th century when King William of Scotland granted the lands to Roger de Richey, the first recorded bearer of the name.

The last name Ritchie is most commonly found in Scotland, especially in the Highlands and Northern regions. It is also notably found throughout Great Britain and Ireland as well as in Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, where it arrived with Scottish immigrants over the centuries.

In the United States, the last name Ritchie is especially common in the Southern states. According to the US Census, states such as Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Mississippi have the highest number of people with the last name Ritchie.

Within the US, the last name Ritchie is also prominent in several metropolitan areas, such as Washington D.C., Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and New York City.

It is a highly unique last name, with only a handful of variations such as Richey, Ritschy, and Ritzy. According to Ancestry.com, there are currently over 28,000 individuals in the US who bear the last name Ritchie.

Variations of the surname Ritchie

The most common variant of the surname Ritchie is Richie, and there are several associated spelling and surname variants that have the same origin. Richey, Ritchey, Riche and Ritch all share a common spelling of the name Ritchie, though what appears to be the original spelling, the surname Ritchie typically has a Scottish origin while the other variants of the surname have a predominately English origin.

One of the branches of the Ritchie family tree is referred to as the 'Clan Ritchie', with many of the branches based in Scotland. Clan Ritchie can trace its lineage back to one Thane of Fyfe, who was alive in the 9th century who also held the office of sheriff of Fyfe.

The most common variants of Ritchie are Richy and Ritchey. The Ritchey variant dates back to medieval times during the 13th century, with origins of the surname found in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The Ritchey variant is believed to have come from a place called Ritchey in the north of the Isles, thought to be the home of one of the original Ritchies.

Riche and Ritch, on the other hand, are more modern variants of the name, more commonly found in the Southern region of England where the name is spelled with a ‘ch’ or ‘tch’ at the end instead of with the traditional ‘ie’.

Richie, an anglicized version of either Riche or Ritch, is a more popular version of the surname and is thought to have been in use for a longer period of time. The Richie variant of the name can than be traced back to the 13th century as well and is believed to have originated from the town of Richie, situated very close to the Isles of Scotland.

Finally, another variant for Ritchie is Ritson, though it is thought to be derived from a slight variation of the spelling and not the root surname of Ritchie. Ritson is believed to have been used throughout the 15th and 16th centuries as a given name, and overtime has become a common surname in Ulster and other parts of Ireland.

Famous people with the name Ritchie

• Mabel Ritchie: singer-songwriter, producer, and American Idol finalist.
• Carmen Ritchie: Golden Globe-nominated actress.
• Marilyn Ritchie: First Lady of Rhode Island.
• Ken Ritchie: English football manager and former player.
• Sir Michael Ritchie: former editor of International Herald Tribune newspaper.
• Fraser Ritchie: Guitarist and songwriter in the band Deacon Blue.
• Jack Ritchie: American dystopian novelist and essayist.
• Robert Smith Ritchie: famous Scottish legal scholar.
• Dana Ritchie: lead alto saxophone for the Caravans.
• Earl Ritchie: founder of the Earl Ritchie American Legion Post in LaGrange, Georgia.
• Adrienne Ritchie: British-born Australian businesswoman, philanthropist and community leader.
• Greg Ritchie: Former Australian cricketer who played in 31 Test matches.
• Jillian Ritchie: Scottish television presenter.
• Kenneth Ritchie: former Scottish professional footballer.
• Dennis Ritchie: American computer scientist who created the C programming language.

Other surnames

RitchRitchardsonRitcharsonRitchesonRitchey