| ![Show Contents]() Ryks History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England The Anglo-Saxon name Ryks comes from when the family resided in the county of Somerset. Ryks is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. In this case the surname was originally derived from the Old English word risc which refers to those individuals who lived near the rushes. 1 Alternatively, the name could have been Saxon in origin, denoting "a powerful, rich, or generous disposition, from ric, rich." 2 Rixon is a village near Sturminster Newton in Dorset. Early Origins of the Ryks familyThe surname Ryks was first found in Cheshire where the mononym Rike was recorded in the Assize Rolls of 1260. A few years later, Osbert, John de la Rixe was recorded in Somerset in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1274. In Suffolk, Ema Ricke and David Rickes were listed there in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 and later, Richard Rycke and Milcentia Ryckes were listed at Colchester in 1330 and 1351. In Devon, Roger ate Rixe was listed in 1302 and back in Somerset, William atte Ryxe was listed there in 1333. 1 Early History of the Ryks familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ryks research. Another 54 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1274 and 1333 are included under the topic Early Ryks History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Ryks Spelling VariationsThe English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Ryks has been recorded under many different variations, including Ricks, Rickes, Rick, Rix, Rixon, Ricke and others. Early Notables of the Ryks familyMore information is included under the topic Early Ryks Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Ryks familyFor many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Ryks or a variant listed above: Peter Rix, who sailed to Virginia in 1663; John Ricks, who sailed to Maryland in 1664; Christopher Ricks migrated to Pennsylvania 1771; Charles Ricks migrated to Allegheny Co. Pennsylvania in 1836.
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
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