Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.
RYE
As described in historical dictionaries
An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857)
(origin: French. Local) From Rive, a coast, a shore, a bank, border.
Patronymica Britannica (1860)
RYE. A town in Sussex. La Rie, meaning a bank, is a very common name of localities in Normandy.
Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.
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