Show ContentsRiale History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Riale

What does the name Riale mean?

The history of the Riale family name begins after the Norman Conquest of 1066. They lived in Kent. Their name, however, is a reference to Roisel, France. John Roiale, Normandy was registered in 1180-1195 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae) 1

The first records of the family was as a "personal name Galfrid Roille in Rotuli de Oblatis et Finibus, King John." 2

Early Origins of the Riale family

The surname Riale was first found in the Close Rolls where Bernard de Royl was listed in 1230. Later, William de Roille was found in the Assize Rolls for Cheshire in 1290. 3

One source presumes that family is from "Ryle, in the manor of Etchells, in the parish of Northendon, Cheshire" 4 and the last roll entry may agree.

An early East Cheshire roll has the following entry: "Sir Nicholas de Eton ... concedes to Sir William de Baggylegh, knt. ... one hamlet... in the vill of Echeles, which is called Ruyhul ... which Richard de Ruyhul held ... c. 1318." 4

This source goes on "most of the Cheshire and Lancashire Royles and Ryles are sprung from this spot, including the late Bishop of Liverpool. In the form of Royle the surname has ramified very strongly." 4 "Royle is the name of an ancient mansion in Whalley parish, [Lancashire]." 5

Early History of the Riale family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Riale research. Another 304 words (22 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1230, 1290, 1551, 1574, 1603, 1609, 1661, 1669, 1734, 1826, 1831, 1833, 1855, 1858, 1878, 1881 and 1894 are included under the topic Early Riale History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Riale Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Royle, Royal, Royell, Royl, Roille, Riall, Ryle, Ryall, O'Riall and many more.

Early Notables of the Riale family

More information is included under the topic Early Riale Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Riale family to Ireland

Some of the Riale family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Riale migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Riale or a variant listed above were:

Riale Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • E DeLa Riale, aged 40, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1829 6


  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  6. 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)


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