Surname Rylands - Meaning and Origin

Rylands: What does the surname Rylands mean?

The surname Rylands is of English origin and is considered a locational surname, indicating that it is derived from a geographical location. "Ryeland" is believed to be a place in the county of Lancashire. The name likely refers to someone who hailed from this region.

The term "Ryeland" is composed of two parts: "rye," referring to the grain that was the main crop in these lands, and "land," meaning a structured or defined area. Thus, the name Rylands could be inferred to mean "Land of the Rye."

Another school of thought is that the name could also be tied to the Old English words "rid", meaning red, and "land" insinuating an area of "red land."

As with most surnames, interpretations can vary depending on the region and the local dialects in play at the time the surname was established.

It was common practice in ancient times to assign surnames based on occupations, person's characteristics or geographical locations, hence the variations in meanings. Historically, people with the last name Rylands have been found majorly in Lancashire.

However, it's important to remember that surname meanings can only give us vague clues about the occupations or characteristics of our distant ancestors due to linguistic and cultural shifts over time.

Rylands: Where does the name Rylands come from?

The last name Rylands is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. It is especially populous in Cheshire, a county in the northwest of England.

In particular, the last name is found in places such as Tarvin and Elton, which are small villages located in Cheshire. It is also commonly found in two other Cheshire towns of Northwich and Winsford. Beyond Cheshire, the name is also found in Staffordshire, Gloucestershire, Shropshire, and Nottinghamshire.

Outside of the United Kingdom, the name is scattered around the rest of the world. There are references to it in Australia, Canada, South Africa, and the United States.

From historical records, it appears that the Rylands family originated in the small parish of Tarvin, in the county of Cheshire. It was first recorded there in 1212 when Robert de Riland, an officer of the King's forest, is listed as a witness at a court near Tarvin. From then on, the surname stayed in Cheshire for centuries, indicating that the family could be of Viking origin.

The name Rylands is still quite common in the British Isles in general, and Cheshire, in particular. It can be found in many records and archives across the country, indicating that many Rylands families still live in the UK.

Variations of the surname Rylands

The Rylands surname is derived from the Old Norse personal name Ryland. Variations of this surname include Ryland, Rylands, Ryles, Riley and Ryley. Spelling variations of Rylands include Rylandes, Ryllandes, Ryllands, Ryeland, Ryelland, Ryllend, Rylandes, Ryllands, Ryllends, Rylands, Rylands and Riellans.

The Rylands surname is a patronymic name, which derives from a given name, in this case the Old Norse Ryland. Patronymic surnames are those derived from the father's name, and were often used in medieval times. For example, John, son of Ryland, might take the surname Rylandes. As the modern word ‘son’ replaced the Olde English ‘sune’, surnames which derived their name from the father’s name often became Anglicised.

Variant spellings of the Rylands surname can be a result of phonetic spellings, which mean that surnames are spelled as they sound. This is particularly common in rural areas, where education levels were often low and illiteracy was high.

Variants and spellings of the same origin for the Rylands surname can be found throughout England. These variant spellings include Riley, Ryley, Ryles and others. However, it is most common in the North West of England, especially in Cheshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire.

Famous people with the name Rylands

• Chris Rylands: British composer and trombonist
• Henry Rylands: British businessman
• Hayley Rylands: British actress
• William Rylands: American businessman
• John Rylands: British entomologist and zoo director
• Gail Rylands: English comedy actress
• James Rylands: English entrepreneur and Anglican priest
• Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone-Rylands: American singer-songwriter, dancer, musician, and actress
• Rackstraw Rylands: British patrician
• Jeremy Rylands: British actor

Other surnames

RylandRylant