Rycroft

Rycroft is an English surname of locational origin, derived from the combination of the Old English elements rīce, meaning "kingdom" or "estate", and croft, meaning "small enclosed field" or "small farm". The name suggests a person who either lived near a small farm or estate, or who owned such a property.

History and Distribution

The surname Rycroft is most commonly found in the English counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Staffordshire. It has historical roots in these regions, where families bearing the name have lived for many generations. Over time, branches of the Rycroft family may have spread to other parts of the United Kingdom and beyond.

Notable Individuals

While the surname itself may not be widely recognised, there have been notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Rycroft. Due to the limited scope of information, specific notable individuals cannot be identified within this entry.

Modern-Day

In contemporary times, individuals with the surname Rycroft can be found across the United Kingdom and in various parts of the world where British migration has occurred. As with many surnames, the name Rycroft has likely evolved and diversified over the centuries, with different branches of the family potentially adopting variations or alternative spellings.

References

  • Hanks, P., Hodges, F., & Coates, R. (2016). The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Reaney, P. H., & Wilson, R. M. (1997). A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

There are approximately 1,344 people named Rycroft in the UK. That makes it roughly the 5,849th most common surname in Britain. Around 21 in a million people in Britain are named Rycroft.

Surname type: Location or geographical feature

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

  • Andrew
  • Christopher
  • David
  • James
  • John
  • Michael
  • Paul
  • Philip
  • Richard
  • Simon
  • Stephen

Female

  • Alison
  • Catherine
  • Claire
  • Elizabeth
  • Julie
  • Karen
  • Katherine
  • Louise
  • Margaret
  • Sarah
  • Sherry
  • Susan

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

BritishSurnames.uk is a Good Stuff website.