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Ryer Family History

Ryer Surname Meaning

English (Sussex and Kent): probably from Rye (see Rea) + the suffix -er and is thus synonymous with Middle English atte Rye denoting someone who lived by a river or an island. This type of formation is common in Sussex and Kent.

Americanized form of German Reier ‘heron’ or of some other similar (like-sounding) surname.

Americanized form of Slovenian Rajar or Rajer (see Rayer).

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


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Ryer family from?

You can see how Ryer families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ryer family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Ryer families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 19 Ryer families living in Suffolk. This was about 42% of all the recorded Ryer's in United Kingdom. Suffolk had the highest population of Ryer families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ryer 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 Ryer ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Ryer. 67% of Ryer women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Ryer | 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
    67%
  • Domestic Servant
    34%

What Ryer family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 10,000 census records available for the last name Ryer. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ryer census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Ryer

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Ryer. 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 Ryer immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Ryer. For the veterans among your Ryer ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ryer military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ryer family history

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What is the average Ryer lifespan?

Between 1953 and 2004, in the United States, Ryer life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 1995. The average life expectancy for Ryer in 1953 was 32, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ryer

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Ryer 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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