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Riis Family History

Riis Surname Meaning

Scandinavian: nickname from ris ‘twigs scrub’ or a habitational name from any of several places so named in Denmark.

Norwegian: habitational name from any of the five farmsteads named Ris from Old Norse hrís ‘brushwood’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Riis family from?

You can see how Riis families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Riis family name was found in the USA between 1880 and 1920. The most Riis families were found in USA in 1920. In 1880 there were 7 Riis families living in Minnesota. This was about 88% of all the recorded Riis's in USA. Minnesota had the highest population of Riis families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Riis surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Riis ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Riis. 100% of Riis women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Riis | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    100%

What Riis family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Riis. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Riis census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Riis

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Riis. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Riis immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 454 military records available for the last name Riis. For the veterans among your Riis ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Riis military records

You've only scratched the surface of Riis family history

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What is the average Riis lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Riis life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1972, and highest in 1993. The average life expectancy for Riis in 1962 was 75, and 90 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Riis

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Riis ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Riis family tree

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