This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Riel family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Riel Family History

Riel Surname Meaning

German: variant of Riehl. German and Dutch: habitational name from any of several places so named in Rhineland and North Brabant.

French Canadian: altered form of Irish Reel or perhaps of its cognate Ryle or of some other similar (like-sounding) Irish surname. Alternatively the surname may possibly ultimately be of French origin (see 5 below).

Compare Reil English (Middlesex): variant of Rial. This surname is now rare in Britain.

Possibly also French (Normandy and northeastern France): topographic name for someone who lived by a stream from a regional derivative of Latin rivus ‘stream’ (compare Rieux) or a habitational name from Riel-les-Eaux a place in Côte-d'Or or from some other place named (Le) Riel.

See also 3 above. Filipino: unexplained.

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Riel family from?

You can see how Riel families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Riel family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Riel families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 21 Riel families living in London. This was about 24% of all the recorded Riel's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Riel families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Riel surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Riel ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Riel. 72% of Riel women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Riel | 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
    72%
  • Incapacitated
    15%
  • Private Means
    15%

What Riel family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 15,000 census records available for the last name Riel. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Riel census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Riel

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Riel. 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 Riel immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Riel. For the veterans among your Riel ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Riel military records

You've only scratched the surface of Riel family history

Discover More

What is the average Riel lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Riel life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Riel in 1942 was 44, and 83 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Riel

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Riel 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 Riel family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial