Origins of the Riley surname
What does the name Riley mean?
The Riley surname is believed to be English and Irish, with distinct points of origin. In England it is a geographic name, referring to someone who may be from a place named 'Riley', an Old English description of a 'rye field'. In Ireland it is believed to be an anglicisation of a patronymic that refers to a descendant of someone with the Irish given name of 'Raghallach' (the valiant one).
Alternative variations of the name Riley
Riley, Railey, Rilley, Railley, Rilie, Reilly
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Common jobs for Rileys
Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.
Common female occupations for Rileys in 1921
Cotton Weaver
2,044
Dressmaker
660
Charwoman
519
Weaver Cotton
506
Housekeeper
493
Common male occupations for Rileys in 1921
Coal Miner
1,286
General Labourer
1,151
Cotton Weaver
1,072
Coal Miner Hewer
490
Tailor
485
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