Contents [hide]

Riley History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Riley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland
England

The Riley surname originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó Raghailligh, which means descendant of Raghallach.

Early Origins of the Riley family

The surname Riley was first found in County Cavan. They were known as the Princes of East Breffny, descended from Raghallaigh, Prince of Breffny in 981. They maintained their territory during the Anglo/Norman invasion of Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke, in 1172, but Sir John O'Reilly, Prince of Breffny surrendered the principality to Queen Elizabeth I thereby ensuring that his territories remained intact.

Early History of the Riley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Riley research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1598, 1630, 1640, 1646, 1667, 1669, 1689, 1691, 1695 and 1703 are included under the topic Early Riley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Riley Spelling Variations

A name was often recorded during the Middle Ages under several different spelling variations during the life of its bearer because literacy was rare there was no real push to clearly define any of the languages found in the British Isles at that time. Variations found of the name Riley include O'Reilly, O'Reilley, O'Reily, O'Rielly, O'Riely, O'Riley, O'Rilley, Reel and many more.

Early Notables of the Riley family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

In England, John Riley, or Ryley, (1646-1691), was an English portrait painter, one of the sons of William Riley or Ryley, (died 1667), Lancaster herald and keeper of the records in the Tower of Londo...

Riley World Ranking

In the United States, the name Riley is the 187^th most popular surname with an estimated 131,811 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Riley is ranked the 753^rd most popular surname with an estimated 7,095 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name Riley is the 245^th popular surname with an estimated 14,086 people with that name. 3 New Zealand ranks Riley as 267^th with 2,257 people. 4 The United Kingdom ranks Riley as 176^th with 31,184 people. 5

Riley migration to the United States +

Death and immigration greatly reduced Ireland's population in the 19th century. For the native Irish people poverty, hunger, and racial prejudice was common. Therefore, thousands left their homeland to seek opportunity in North America. Those who survived the journey and the quarantine camps to which they arrived, were instrumental towards building the strong developing nations of the United States and the future Canada. By far, the largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. These were employed as construction or factory workers. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has shown early immigrants bearing the name Riley:

Riley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Garrett Riley, aged 24, who arrived in Virginia in 1634 aboard the ship "Bonaventure" coming via St. Domingo 6
Miles Riley, aged 20, who arrived in Virginia in 1634 aboard the ship "Bonaventure" coming via St. Domingo 6
Elizabeth Riley, aged 18, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Transport" 6
Richard Riley, who arrived in Virginia in 1649 6

Riley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Henry Riley, who landed in Rowley, Massachusetts in 1710 6
Terence Riley, who arrived in Pennsylvania, Virginia or Maryland in 1773 6

Riley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Johan Riley, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1803 6
Nancy Riley, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811 6
Hugh Riley, aged 26, who arrived in New York in 1812 6
Edward Cost Riley, who landed in New York in 1820 6
Martin Riley, who landed in New York in 1822 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Riley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Anthony Riley, who arrived in Wisconsin in 1922 6

Riley migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Riley Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Corns Riley, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750

Riley Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Margaret Riley, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1828
Catherine Riley, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1832
Samuel Riley, aged 48, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Edward Reid" in 1833
Bartholomew Riley, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1840
Bernard Riley, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1841
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Riley migration to Australia +

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

Riley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Adam Riley, British Convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Mr. Thomas Riley, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Mr. William Riley, British Convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Mr. James Riley, (b. 1777), aged 26, British convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
Mr. Thomas Riley, British convict who was convicted in Northumberland, England for life, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Riley 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:

Riley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Frederick Riley, Cornish settler travelling from Launceston aboard the ship "Eagle" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841 9
Mrs Mary Riley, Cornish settler travelling from Launceston aboard the ship "Eagle" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841 9
Mr. John Riley, (b. 1814), aged 28, British cabinet maker travelling from London aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" arriving in Nelson, South Island, New Zealand on 28th October 1842 10
Mrs. Mary Riley, (b. 1806), aged 36, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" arriving in Nelson, South Island, New Zealand on 28th October 1842 10
Mr. William Riley, (b. 1833), aged 9, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" arriving in Nelson, South Island, New Zealand on 28th October 1842 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Riley 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. 11

Riley Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. Thomas Riley, (b. 1619), aged 16, British settler travelling aboard the ship "The Dorset" arriving in Barbados in September 1635 12

Contemporary Notables of the name Riley (post 1700) +

Margaret Riley (1965-2024), American film and television producer, agent, and manager
Dennis L. Riley (1945-2023), American politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1980 to 1990
Steve Bruce Riley (1952-2021), American professional football player who was an offensive tackle for 10 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL)
Terence Riley (1954-2021), American architect and chief curator of architecture and design at the Museum of Modern Art from 1992 to 2006
Kenneth Jerome "Ken" Riley (1947-2020), American professional football cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals (1969–1983)
Benjamin Alexander "Ben" Riley Jr. (1933-2017), American jazz drummer
Bernard Riley (b. 1981), American football defensive lineman who has played since 2003
John A. "Jack" Riley Jr. (1935-2016), American actor, comedian and voice artist, known for his role as Elliot Carlin on The Bob Newhart Show and for voicing Stuart "Stu" Pickles in Rugrats
B. Daniel Riley (1946-2016), English-born, American politician in the Maryland House of Delegates
John Patrick "Jack" Riley (1920-2016), American ice hockey player and coach, hockey coach at West Point (1950-1986), gold medal coach of the United States team at the 1960 Squaw Valley Olympics
... (Another 166 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Riley family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. John Riley (d. 1914), British Seaman from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 13

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Edwin Martin Riley (1923-1941), Australian Ordinary Seaman from Laidley, Queensland, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 14

HMS Hood

Mr. George P Riley (b. 1916), English Stoker 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Birmingham, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 15

HMS Royal Oak

Charles H. Riley, British Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 16
Joseph Riley (1922-1939), British Boy 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 16

RMS Lusitania

Miss Sutcliffe Riley, American 3rd Class passenger from Boston, Massachusetts, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking by escaping in life boat 13 17
Mr. Edward Riley, American 3rd Class passenger from Boston, Massachusetts, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 17
Mrs. Annie Riley, American 3rd Class passenger from Boston, Massachusetts, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 17
Miss Ethel Riley, American 3rd Class passenger from Boston, Massachusetts, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking by escaping in life boat 13 17

Winter Quarters coal mine

Mr. Thomas Riley (b. 1865), English mine worker from Durham, England residing in Scofield, Utah who worked in the Winter Quarters coal mine on 1st May 1900, when 10 of the 25lb kegs of black powder exploded; he died in the explosion 18

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 29th September 2021. Retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Miners killed in Winter Quarters (retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from http://www.carbon-utgenweb.com/miners.html