Riker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Early Origins of the Riker family

The surname Riker was first found in Switzerland, where the name contributed greatly to the development of an emerging nation, and would later play a large role in the tribal and national conflicts of the area. In later years the name branched into many houses, each playing a significant role in the local social and political affairs.

Early History of the Riker family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Riker research. Another 159 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1277, 1286, 1342, 1356, 1610, 1635, 1637, 1645, 1667, 1697, 1717, 1720 and 1734 are included under the topic Early Riker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Riker Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Reich, Reiche, Reichs, Reicher, Reick, Reicke, Reicker, Reichers, Rike, Ryke, Rycke, Reichle, Reichel, Riker and many more.

Early Notables of the Riker family

Notables of the time with the surname Riker were Petrus Reich von Reichenstein, who was the Bishop of Basel in 1286. Gottfried Reiche (1667-1734), was German trumpet player and composer of the Baroque era, Johann Sebastian Bach's chief trumpeter. Julius Reichelt (1637-1717), was a German mathematician and astronomer who may have set up the first observatory in the city of Strasbourg. The...
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Riker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Riker Ranking

In the United States, the name Riker is the 9,194^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Riker migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Riker Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Adam Riker, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1757 2

Riker Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

A. W. Riker, who landed in San Francisco in 1852
E.P. Riker, aged 32, who immigrated to the United States, in 1893
Charles L. Riker, aged 21, who immigrated to the United States, in 1894
Riker, aged 36, who landed in America, in 1896
A.B. Riker, aged 49, who immigrated to the United States, in 1896

Riker Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Carl M. Riker, aged 20, who immigrated to America from Copenhagen, in 1904
Carroll Riker, aged 55, who landed in America, in 1908
Bayley Riker, who immigrated to the United States, in 1908
Chas. L. Riker, aged 35, who landed in America, in 1908
Clark Riker, aged 25, who settled in America, in 1910
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Riker (post 1700) +

Thomas E. "Tom" Riker (b. 1950), American former NBA professional basketball player
James Riker (1822-1889), American historian and genealogist from New York, His father, was a merchant and landowner descended from early Dutch settlers
David Riker (b. 1963), American screenwriter and film director from Boston
Richard Riker (1773-1842), American lawyer and politician from New York, son of Congressman Samuel Riker
John Lafayette Riker (1822-1862), American attorney and an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War killed in action
Samuel Riker (1743-1823), American politician, member of the United States House of Representatives from New York
Robin Riker (b. 1952), American actress who has appeared in The Rockford Files, M*A*S*H, The A-Team, Airwolf, Murder, She Wrote and other television shows
Billy Riker, American lead guitarist
Andrew Lawrence Riker (1868-1930), American early automobile designer, founder of the Riker Electric Motor Company in 1888 and later Riker Motor Vehicle Company
William Harrison Riker (1920-1993), American political scientist who applied game theory and mathematics to political science

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)