Ryan (surname)

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Ryan (Irish: Ó Riain) is a common surname of Irish origin, as well as being a common given name in the English-speaking world.

Origins and meaning

Ryan coat of arms at Valley Inn pub, Glenstal, Co. Limerick

There are several different origins for the surname. In some cases it may be a shortened form of O'Ryan, which is an Anglicized adaptation of the Gaelic surname Ó Riain, meaning "descendant of Rian".[1] It can also be a shortened form of Mulryan or O'Mulryan, which are derived from the Gaelic Ó Maoilriain, meaning "descendant of the follower of Rian".[1][2]

The meaning of the Old Irish name Rian is unknown.[3] Some sources have suggested that it is related to the Old Irish word rían, meaning "water" or "ocean".[4][5] Others have suggested that it is related to the Old Irish word , meaning "king".[6][7] Both of these etymologies have been discounted by scholars, however.[3] According to John Ryan, Professor of Early and Medieval History at University College Dublin, "What the Rian in the surnames Ó Riain and Ó Maolriain is has never been satisfactorily explained. Rian, like Niall, seems to be so ancient that its meaning was lost before records began."[3]

Popular modern sources typically suggest that Ryan means "little king"[8][9] or "illustrious".[2][10]

There are also cases in which Ryan is an Americanized form of the German surname Rein.[1]

List of persons with the surname Ryan

A–D

E–L

M–R

S–Z

  • T. Claude Ryan (1898–1982), American aviator and aeronautic engineer
  • T. J. Ryan (Thomas Joseph Ryan, 1876–1921), Australian politician, premier of Queensland

Fictional characters

See also

  • Rayan (Persian given name)
  • Rhyan, given name and surname

References

  1. ^ .
  2. ^ .
  3. ^ a b c MacLysaght, Edward (1964). A Guide to Irish Surnames. Helicon. p. 15.
  4. ^ "Ryan". The Internet Surname Database. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  5. ^ "rían". eDIL - Irish Language Dictionary. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  6. .
  7. ^ "rí". eDIL - Irish Language Dictionary. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  8. .
  9. .
  10. .

Bibliography

  • Laffan, Thomas (1911). Tipperary Families : Being The Hearth Money Records for 1665–1667. James Duffy & Co.

External links