Ritchie Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Ritchie last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
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Meaning and origin of the Ritchie last name
Meaning of the Ritchie last name: little Richard. Ritchie is a Scottish and northern English diminutive of Richard, a Norman name meaning "powerful and hardy". The Scots formed many such pet names, and Ritchie was a favourite one. The surname is especially common in Aberdeenshire, Angus and Ayrshire, and some Ritchies were linked with the Mackintoshes as a sept of Clan Chattan. Lowland Ritchies settled in Ulster, and from there in Virginia and the Carolinas. The Scottish fondness for -ie pet forms also gave names such as Davie and Jamie. Variant spellings include Richie and Ritchey, and the name is also found in Perthshire and Fife.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Ritchie name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Ritchie name in Scotland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Canada and Northern Ireland; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Ritchie name FAQ
What does the Ritchie name mean?
Little Richard. Common variants include Richie, Ritchey, Richey.
Where does the Ritchie surname come from?
It originates in Scotland, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Northern Ireland.
Is there a Ritchie coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Ritchie crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Ritchie coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.