Surname Risby - Meaning and Origin
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Risby: What does the surname Risby mean?
The last name Risby is believed to be of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is thought to be a locational name from the place of Risby, which is located in both Lincolnshire and Suffolk counties in England.
The place-name "Risby" is derived from the Old English elements "hris" or "hrycg" which mean a "ridge or hill", combined with the element "by", a farm dwelling or settlement. As such, it is thought to have referred to a settlement that was situated near a ridge.
Given its Anglo-Saxon roots, the name Risby may have been used as a locational name to denote someone who lived at or near this particular ridge or hill. It could also have been used as a sign of patronage, choosing to use the name as an indication of attachment to that particular location.
It is also possible that the name Risby was derived from an old given name, that being the Old Scandinavian masculine personal name "Ricbiorn”, meaning "powerful bear". In this instance, it could have been used as a given name, likely during the Viking invasions, and may have been adopted into an existing surname.
The surname Risby is relatively rare, and is mostly found in East England counties such as Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, and Lincolnshire. It can also be found in Britain’s overseas territories as emigrants with the surname Risby established families in Australia, particularly in the state of South Australia, during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisRisby: Where does the name Risby come from?
The last name Risby is derived from an English place name, Risby or Risby cum Clifton near Thurlby in the Lincolnshire county of England. It is believed to have originated from the Old Norse risbi meaning ‘a settlement by a brushwood’. In the Domesday Book of 1086, it is listed as Rhisbi, or Hysebi as it was written in the 12th century.
Historically, there were eight distinct settlements named Risby in England. However, these settlements are mostly gone now or have merged with other towns. Risby cum Clifton - first recorded in the 12th century - was the last one standing until the 19th century when it was annexed by the parish of Thurlby and became part of the Barton-upon-Humber Rural District.
In modern times, Risby is a small hamlet of just over a hundred houses. Despite its small size, it still bears the name Risby and stands as a tribute to the settlements that have come and gone before it. As for other Risby place names, apart from small hamlets near other villages in Lincolnshire, Suffolk and Yorkshire, they no longer exist. Nonetheless, the name remains a reminder of ancient settlements that have been subsumed or destroyed by the passing of time.
Variations of the surname Risby
The surname Risby has many variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin. These include Risbee, Rizby, Resby, Rushby, Russby, Rushbie, Rusty, Rushbee, Rozby, Rozbie, Rousby, Rousbie, and Rozbey.
The name originated from townships named Risby, which first appeared in early maps of England. These places were scattered around the British Isles, in counties such as Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cumberland, Herefordshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Worcestershire, and Yorkshire.
The modern spellings for these place names are often found in records including Ryseby, Rushby, Rossby, Rusby, Ruzby, and Rizby. However, over time, many place names declined and places with this name have now disappeared, although the surnames of those who lived in these areas remain.
It is possible that some variants of the surname, such as Rusty, Rushbee, and Rozbey, are derived from nicknames used by the people who lived in Risby. This is supported by records which show that some of these variants have been used in documents dating back to the Middle Ages.
The name Risby can also be found in other countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, France and Germany. Through the passage of time, the name has been subject to variations in spelling and pronunciation as it spread around the world.
Overall, there are many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Risby. As some of the places where the name was initially derived from have fallen from records, it is important to keep accurate records of how people may have spelt the name over time.
Famous people with the name Risby
- Jacques Risby: French former professional football player
- Matthew Risby: British fashion designer for his own upscale fashion brand
- David Risby: British-Australian actor, composer, singer, and stage actor
- John Risby: Scottish professional footballer
- Edward Risby: English actor, screenwriter, and producer
- Stephen Risby: British actor and voice actor
- Ken Risby: Scottish professional footballer
- Arthur Risby: English professional footballer
- Jimmy Risby: American Major League Baseball pitcher
- Fred Risby: English footballer and manager
- Len Risby: English professional footballer
- Les Risby: English professional footballer
- Robert Risby: English professional footballer
- Don Risby: American professional baseball player
- Eugene Risby: British theatre director and producer
- Nana Risby: British fashion model and television presenter
- David Risby-Pogsobe: Ghanaian professional footballer