NameCensus.

UK surname

Ryalls

A surname derived from a Norman-French place name meaning "dweller by the rye fields".

In the 1881 census there were 226 people recorded with the Ryalls surname, ranking it #11,889 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 428, ranked #11,234, up from #11,889 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Carlton-in-Lindrick, Wallingwillis, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Norton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham, Wakefield and Barnsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ryalls is 458 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 89.4%.

1881 census count

226

Ranked #11,889

Modern count

428

2016, ranked #11,234

Peak year

2010

458 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ryalls had 226 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,889 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 428 in 2016, ranked #11,234.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 349 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Ryalls surname distribution map

The map shows where the Ryalls surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Ryalls surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ryalls over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 161 #12,288
1861 historical 168 #13,895
1881 historical 226 #11,889
1891 historical 232 #13,429
1901 historical 324 #11,042
1911 historical 349 #10,282
1997 modern 426 #10,490
1998 modern 433 #10,718
1999 modern 446 #10,513
2000 modern 446 #10,516
2001 modern 442 #10,388
2002 modern 450 #10,452
2003 modern 434 #10,588
2004 modern 435 #10,600
2005 modern 425 #10,667
2006 modern 423 #10,765
2007 modern 427 #10,782
2008 modern 419 #11,058
2009 modern 454 #10,590
2010 modern 458 #10,756
2011 modern 448 #10,829
2012 modern 428 #11,092
2013 modern 437 #11,090
2014 modern 446 #10,981
2015 modern 447 #10,873
2016 modern 428 #11,234

Geography

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Where Ryalls' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Carlton-in-Lindrick, Wallingwillis, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Norton, Sheffield and Rotherham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rotherham, Wakefield and Barnsley. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Carlton-in-Lindrick, Wallingwillis Nottinghamshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Norton Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Rotherham Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rotherham 001 Rotherham
2 Wakefield 041 Wakefield
3 Wakefield 044 Wakefield
4 Barnsley 024 Barnsley
5 Rotherham 011 Rotherham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ryalls

These lists show first names that appear often with the Ryalls surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ryalls

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ryalls, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Ryalls surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Ryalls household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Ryalls is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ryalls is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ryalls falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ryalls is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Ryalls, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ryalls

The surname Ryalls has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "ryge," which means "rye," and "halh," meaning a nook or remote valley. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in a secluded valley where rye was grown.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Riggehale." This entry indicates that the name was already in use during the 11th century and may have been associated with a specific location.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Ryhall, Ryhalle, Ryehall, and Ryalls. These variations reflect the fluid nature of spelling conventions during that time and the influence of local dialects.

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the name was William de Ryhall, who served as the Archbishop of Dublin from 1234 to 1249. His appointment to this high ecclesiastical position suggests that the Ryalls family held some prominence in medieval English society.

During the 16th century, the name appears in records related to the English county of Leicestershire, particularly in the village of Rearsby. Thomas Ryalls (1550-1617) was a prominent landowner and farmer in this area, and his descendants continued to play a significant role in the local community.

One of the earliest known instances of the spelling "Ryalls" can be found in the records of St. Mary's Church in Rearsby, where the marriage of John Ryalls and Elizabeth Smith was recorded in 1631.

In the 18th century, a notable figure bearing the Ryalls surname was John Ryalls (1701-1783), a renowned clockmaker from Leicestershire. His intricate timepieces were highly sought after, and several examples of his work can still be found in museums and private collections.

Another individual of note was Samuel Ryalls (1765-1841), an English author and poet who published several works, including "The Village Curate" and "The Posthumous Works of a Late Celebrated Genius." His literary contributions helped to further establish the Ryalls name in the cultural landscape of the time.

While the surname Ryalls is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history that spans several centuries and can be traced back to its medieval roots. The name's association with specific locations and its presence in various historical records and literary works provide valuable insights into its evolution and significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ryalls families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ryalls surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 141 Ryalls' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.45x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 141 6.45x
Derbyshire 24 6.95x
Nottinghamshire 19 6.39x
Cheshire 14 2.88x
Lincolnshire 9 2.55x
Shropshire 9 4.73x
Hampshire 5 1.11x
Lancashire 2 0.08x
Dorset 1 0.69x
Middlesex 1 0.05x
Staffordshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sheffield in Yorkshire leads with 39 Ryalls' recorded in 1881 and an index of 56.07x.

Place Total Index
Sheffield 39 56.07x
Ecclesall Bierlow 29 65.27x
Nether Hallam 13 43.99x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 12 58.97x
Norton 11 387.32x
Swinton In Rotherham 9 155.71x
Birkenhead 8 20.62x
Broseley 8 236.69x
Heeley 8 120.48x
Litchurch 8 57.60x
Rotherham 8 64.94x
Carlton In Lindrick 7 886.08x
Chester St Olave 6 1363.64x
Scunthorpe 6 377.36x
Carlton 5 147.49x
Crofton 5 925.93x
Millbrook 5 43.94x
Warsop 5 632.91x
Wombwell 5 78.49x
Mexborough 3 69.12x
Wilksby 3 10000.00x
Brampton Bierlow 2 71.43x
Derby St Werburgh 2 10.04x
Hoyland Nether 2 37.31x
Rawmarsh 2 25.91x
Aston Cum Aughton 1 55.87x
Barlborough 1 78.13x
Ecclesfield 1 6.24x
Fordington 1 32.05x
Gate Fulford 1 19.61x
Madeley 1 14.33x
Manchester 1 0.85x
Middle Temple London 1 1428.57x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 1.27x
Styrrup 1 227.27x
Tibshelf 1 59.17x
Walesby 1 476.19x
Warrington 1 3.22x
Wath On Dearne 1 22.94x
Whittington 1 20.92x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ryalls surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 16
Annie 9
Ann 8
Sarah 7
Elizabeth 4
Hannah 4
Jane 4
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Florence 3
Louisa 3
Ada 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Emma 2
Frances 2
Kate 2
Lily 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Blanch 1
Catharine 1
Charlotte 1
Elizth.W. 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Girtrude 1
Harriett 1
Lavina 1
Lawia 1
Lilian 1
Lucy 1
Mar 1
Margaret 1
Nancy 1
Nina 1
Phebe 1
Rebbeca 1
Ruth 1
Tamar 1
Vidletta 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Ryalls surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 18
William 15
George 9
James 7
Thomas 7
Joseph 6
Edward 5
Charles 4
Samuel 4
Aaron 3
Henry 3
Arthur 2
Edwin 2
Frederick 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Alfred 1
Benjamin 1
Bernard 1
Cyril 1
Edgar 1
Frank 1
Geo. 1
Herbert 1
Jasper 1
Jno.Richard 1
Leond.Atkinson 1
Levi 1
Matthew 1
Maurice 1
Osborne 1
Richard 1
Rueben 1
Saml. 1
Sandy 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Ryalls surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ryalls surname in 1881?

In 1881, 226 people were recorded with the Ryalls surname. That placed it at #11,889 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ryalls surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 428 in 2016. That gives Ryalls a modern rank of #11,234.

What does the Ryalls surname mean?

A surname derived from a Norman-French place name meaning "dweller by the rye fields".

What does the Ryalls map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ryalls bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.