RICHES
The surname Riches is of English origin and is most commonly found in England, the United States, Australia and Canada. According to contemporary records it first appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296 under the spelling Ryches and was associated with the reign of King Edward I, known as The Hammer of the Scots.
Its etymology is complex. In one tradition the name derives from the Middle English word riche, meaning wealthy or rich, and may have been originally used as a nickname for a prosperous person. This form was introduced into England after the Norman Conquest of 1066 and is also entertained as an Old French development of riche, the same word for wealth. In another tradition the surname is a patronymic of the medieval given name Rich, a short form of Richard, itself composed of the Old German elements ric (power) and hard (hardy, brave, strong). A third background is Anglo‑Saxon and locational: the element ric in Old English meaning a stream or drainage channel; as a topographical name it would denote residence by such a watercourse. The plural genitive form gave rise to surnames such as Riches from places like Glynde Reach in Sussex or the now‑lost village of Riche in Leicestershire.
Historic documents attest to the spread of the surname. In 1573 a Henry Riches is listed in the Norfolk Feet of Fines, and a marriage between William Ryches and Grace Tyffin at St. Mary Somerset in London is recorded on 30th June 1588. The surname also appears overseas; Captain Andrew Riches of the White Fox of London, and his son Samuel, were early settlers in the New-World colony of the Barbadoes, noted there in 1679.
Varieties of the spelling appear across English, French, Dutch, German and other European cultures. Common variants include Rich, Riche, Richess, Richis, Richy, Richys, Rix, Rixe, Richesse and Richey. These differences reflect linguistic shifts and the use of the suffix –s to denote “son of” in the original Anglo‑Saxon form, deriving ultimately from the personal name Ric meaning power or rule, rather than material wealth. The surname remains relatively uncommon but continues to preserve a proud heritage in the British Isles and beyond.
Typical given names associated with the Riches surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
Female
- Amanda
- Christine
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Karen
- Lisa
- Louise
- Margaret
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
- Victoria
- Yvonne
Similar and related surnames
- Rich
- Riche
- Richa
- Richens
- Richers
- Richel
- Richer
- Richen
- Richess
- Richeux
- Riched
- Rashes
- Rassia
- Reaches
- Reches
- Richass
- Richd
- Richet
- Richetts
- Richey
- Richez
- Richi
- Richie
- Richies
- Richis
- Richiusa
- Richl
- Richo
- Richoux
- Richs
- Richt
- Richuss
- Richy
- Ritch
- Ritche
- Ritched
- Ritchens
- Ritches
- Ritchey
- Ritchi
- Ritchie
- Ritchies
- Ritchis
- Rochais
- Rochas
- Roches
- Rochez
- Rochs
- Roshes
- Roushias
- Ruches
- Rushouse
- Russia
- Wrich
- Richu
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Riches in...
Braille
⠗⠊⠉⠓⠑⠎
Morse
.-...-.-.........
Semaphore
There are approximately 6,553 people named Riches in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,449th most common surname in Britain. Around 101 in a million people in Britain are named Riches.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Riches
- Adam Riches - Comedian
- Naomi Riches - Rower
- Ian Riches - Cricketer
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.