Rioux History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France

Early Origins of the Rioux family

The surname Rioux was first found in Normandy (French: Normandie), the former Duchy of Normandy, where they held a family seat at Lerous near Rouen in the county of Breteuil, and were descended from Turchil Leroux who lived about 1070. He or his son was known as "Ralph the Red" and stood very high in the favor of King Henry I. Later in 1190 he operated from his castle of Pont-Echanfré near Bernai in the Norman Vexin. He died in the wreck of the "Blanche Nef" with the King's two sons. This main stem of the family were eventually elevated to Barons of the Empire after the Revolution.

Early History of the Rioux family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rioux research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1677 and 1734 are included under the topic Early Rioux History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rioux Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Riou, Rioux, Rieux, Rioult, Roux, Rou, Roue, de Riou and many more.

Early Notables of the Rioux family

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

Rioux World Ranking

the United States, the name Rioux is the 8,173^rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Rioux is ranked the 321^st most popular surname with an estimated 13,906 people with that name. 2 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Rioux is the 125^th popular surname. 3 France ranks Rioux as 4,631^st with 1,500 - 2,000 people. 4

Rioux migration to the United States +

Rioux Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Claude Rioux, who settled in Louisiana in 1719
Claude Rioux, aged 22, who landed in Louisiana in 1719 5

Rioux migration to Canada +

Rioux Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Jean Rioux, who settled in Quebec from Brittany in 1677

Contemporary Notables of the name Rioux (post 1700) +

Johnny Rioux, Boston-based musician
Napoléon Rioux (1837-1899), Canadian seigneur, merchant and politician in Quebec who represented Témiscouata in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec from 1892 to 1897
Matthias Rioux (b. 1934), Canadian politician who represented Matane in the National Assembly of Quebec from 1994 to 2003
Georges Rioux, Canadian diplomat
Jean Rioux (b. 1953), Canadian educator, businessman and politician in Quebec who represented Iberville in the Quebec National Assembly from 2003 to 2007
Laurent Rioux (b. 1943), Canadian NASCAR driver
Gerry Rioux (b. 1959), Canadian NHL ice hockey player with the Winnipeg Jets (1979-1980)
Pierre Rioux (b. 1962), Canadian retired NHL ice hockey player for the Calgary Flames

The Rioux Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Es-tu muet

Sources +

"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
"The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)