Surname Rile - Meaning and Origin
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Rile: What does the surname Rile mean?
The surname Rile is of Irish origin, derived from the Old Gaelic name O’Raghallaigh, which means “descendant of Raghallach”. Raghallach is a personal name composed of two elements: “ragh” (meaning race) and “allach” (meaning valiant). Therefore, the entire name can be interpreted as ‘the descendant of the valiant race’.
This surname has seen multiple spelling variations over the years due to its translation from Gaelic to English, such as Riley, Reilly, O'Reilly, and indeed, Rile. Families with this surname can be found in many regions, although it is most common in the British Isles due to its Irish origin.
It's important to note that meanings of surnames can vary, as they may have arisen for different reasons in different families. For instance, a surname could be derived from the trade or profession of an ancestor, a nickname, or a geographical location. So, in this case, while Rile is primarily derived from an ancestral personal name, it could potentially hold different meanings for others.
Order DNA origin analysisRile: Where does the name Rile come from?
The last name Rile is quite common today, especially in countries of the British Isles. It is most frequently found in England, although there are significant numbers in Scotland, Ireland, and Wales as well.
The earliest written records of the name Rile date back as far as the 12th century in Scotland. It is thought to be of Anglo-Norman origin, and was likely taken from a place-name in either France or Normandy. This is consistent with the Norman conquest of England in 1066, when many Norman families migrated to the area.
Today, the Rile surname is fairly widespread. According to Forebears, an online genealogical source, the name is common in England, where it is ranked at about 1,800th in terms of overall population. Scotland ranks it at 2,822nd, making it the 86th most popular surname in the country. In Wales, it is ranked at 787th in terms of population, and in Ireland it is ranked at 3,735th.
Overall, the surname is very popular in the British Isles and is widely distributed throughout the region. It is likely to remain a significant name for generations to come.
Variations of the surname Rile
The surname Rile is a variant spelling of the name Reilly, which is an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic name 'O’Reilly'. It is also sometimes spelled O'Riley and Rielly.
The surname may have originally been derived from the Old Scottish Gaelic name ‘Raghailligh’, which is a combination of two elements meaning 'counsel’ and ’king’ respectively. It was traditionally used as an Anglo-Irish surname, especially in Counties Cavan and Leitrim in Ireland.
Variations of the surname include O'Riley, O'Rielly, Reilly, Reily, Rielly, Ryley, Riley, Rylie and Ryle. Common nicknames for these surnames include Ry and Lee.
The surname O’Riley may have been used to denote the reconstructors or rebuilders of the lost kingdom at the time of the Norman Invasion of Ireland in the 12th century.
In the 19th century, the spelling of the surname O'Reilly was common in Ireland, along with the variants O'Rielly and O’Riley. It can also be found in the Channel Islands and England, especially in Lancashire.
Alternate spellings of the surname include Riall, Reill, Ryall, Reilly, Reily, Riley, Ryle, Rylie and Rielly. These spellings may have originated from an individual's misunderstanding of the spoken language, phonetic spelling or family migration. Regardless of the spelling, the origins of the surname remain the same.
Famous people with the name Rile
- Dean Riley: Former Florida High School assistant principal, Principal, and football coach
- Hal Riley: Canadian ice hockey defenceman
- Derek Riley: Retired Scottish professional footballer
- Lamar Riley: American country music artist
- Kevin Riley: Former Canadian football quarterback
- Henry George Riley: British naturalist and entomologist
- William Riley: British rower and Olympic gold medalist
- Adam Riley: Former English cricketer
- Rob Riley: Actor and stand-up comedian
- Tom Riley: British actor