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Riby Family History

Riby Surname Meaning

from Riby (Lincs) which is recorded as Ribi in 1086 and Riebi in 1159 or perhaps from Ribby (Lancs). The Lincs place-name probably derives from Old English rȳge ‘rye’ + Old Scandinavian ‘farmstead village’.

For the Lancs place-name see also Rigby. See also Redmonds Dictionary of Yorks Surnames.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


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Where is the Riby family from?

You can see how Riby families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Riby family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1880 and 1920. The most Riby families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 88 Riby families living in Yorkshire. This was about 85% of all the recorded Riby's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Riby families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Riby surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Riby ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Riby. 40% of Riby men worked as a General Labourer and 82% of Riby women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Riby were Fisherman (retired) and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Riby | 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 Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    40%
  • Plumber
    20%
  • Farmer
    20%
  • Fisherman (retired)
    20%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    82%
  • Housekeeper
    6%
  • Household Duties
    6%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%

What Riby family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Riby. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Riby census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Riby

Passenger Lists

There are 348 immigration records available for the last name Riby. 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 Riby immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 177 military records available for the last name Riby. For the veterans among your Riby ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Riby military records

You've only scratched the surface of Riby family history

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What is the average Riby lifespan?

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Riby 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.

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