Contents [hide]

Rider History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Rider History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

The Rider surname is derived from the Middle High German word "rîter," which means "horseback rider" or "knight." It is thus likely that the first people to adopt this as a surname were either knights or descendants of knights.

Early Origins of the Rider family

The surname Rider was first found in Austria, where this family name became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. Always prominent in social affairs, the name became an integral part of that turbulent region as it emerged to form alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation.

Early History of the Rider family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rider research. Another 232 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1262, 1588, 1616, 1645, 1663, 1725, 1737, 1759, 1779, 1791, 1812, 1833, 1849, 1859, 1869, 1896 and 1926 are included under the topic Early Rider History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rider Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Rider include Ritter, Ritther, Rytter, Ryther, Ridder, Rider, Rhitter and many more.

Early Notables of the Rider family

During this period prominent bearers of the name Rider were Christian Ritter (c. 1645-1725?), German composer and organist of the North German organ school; Heinrich Ritter (1791-1869), who was a German historian of philosophy born in Zerbst. He taught at Goettingen for thirty years. Karl...
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Rider Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rider Ranking

In the United States, the name Rider is the 2,410^th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 1

Rider migration to the United States +

After the First World War, Austria became a republic. The Treaty of Versailles broke up the empire in 1919 and many of the Sudeten Germans were incorporated into the new nation of Czechoslovakia. In the 20th century, many Austrians migrated to other parts of Germany or Europe, as well as to North America. In the United States, the majority of settlers landed in Philadelphia, and moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Many German settlers also migrated to Canada, particularly Ontario and the Prairies. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Rider were

Rider Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Rider, who arrived in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Hercules", bound for Weymouth 2
William Rider, who settled in Virginia in 1639
Sarah Rider, who landed in Virginia in 1660 2
Eleanor Rider, who arrived in Maryland in 1665 2
Andrew Rider, who landed in Virginia in 1666 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rider Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Charles Rider, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 2
Hans M. Rider, who sailed to Philadelphia in 1728
Richard Rider, who arrived in America in 1760-1763 2
William Rider, who landed in America in 1764 2
George Rider, who arrived in Frederick County, Maryland in 1798 2

Rider Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Henry Rider, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1862 2

Rider migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rider Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Christopher Rider, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
John Rider, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
Mr. Stephen Rider U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelbourne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 37 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 20, 1783 at East River, New York, USA 3
Mrs. Margaret Rider U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelbourne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 86 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 20, 1783 at East River, New York, USA 3
Miss. Elizabeth Rider D.U.E. (b. 1772), aged 11 who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelbourne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 143 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 20, 1783 at East River, New York, USA 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rider migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Rider Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Rider, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Chapman" on 12th April 1826, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
James Rider, English convict from Wiltshire, who was transported aboard the "Andromeda" on November 13, 1832, settling in New South Wales, Australia 5
Mr. Joseph Rider, British Convict who was convicted in Devon, England for life, transported aboard the "Asia" on 5th November 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land)1836 6
Mr. John Rider, British Convict who was convicted in Chester, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Asia" on 20th July 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Mr. Robert Rider, British Convict who was convicted in Leicester, England for life, transported aboard the "Asia" on 20th July 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rider migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Rider Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Jonas Brown Rider, aged 28, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1842 8
Mary Lucy Rider, aged 19, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1842 8
Mary Ellen Rider, aged 6, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1842 8
Jonas B. Rider, aged 4, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1842 8
Thomas Rider, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "London" in 1842
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rider migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 9

Rider Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

John Rider, who settled in Barbados in 1654

Contemporary Notables of the name Rider (post 1700) +

Michael Rider (b. 1952), American actor, known for his roles in Road House (1989), Pulse (1988) and Platoon Leader (1988)
Amy Rider, American actress, known for her roles in The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008), Pluzman (2008) and Kill Speed (2010)
George Rider (1890-1979), American college sports coach and administrator
Arthur Fremont Rider (1885-1962), American writer, poet, editor, inventor, genealogist, and librarian
Isaiah "J.R." Rider (b. 1971), American former National Basketball Association player
Fremont Rider (1885-1962), American writer and librarian
William Rider (1723-1785), English miscellaneous writer, son of John Rider of London
Thomas Rider (1785-1847), British politician, Member of Parliament for Kent
Elizabeth Rider, English actress known for her roles in Doctors (2000), Brothers of the Head (2005) and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II-The Sith Lords (2004)
Steve Rider (b. 1950), English sports presenter and anchorman
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Rider family +

USS Arizona

Mr. Maurice D. Rider, American Boatswain's Mate First Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 10

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 28th January 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/chapman
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 27) Andromeda voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1832 with 186 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/andromeda/1832
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1835
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th February 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1837
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 7th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html