Ryan (surname)

"O'Ryan" redirects here. For the American R&B singer, see O'Ryan (singer).

Ryan  (Irish: Ó Riain) is a surname and a given name.[1] The name is of Irish origin.[2]

## Origins and meaning

[edit]

Ryan coat of arms at Valley Inn pub, Glenstal, Co. Limerick

There are several different origins for the surname. In some cases it may be a shortened form of O'Ryan, which is an Anglicized adaptation of the Gaelic surname Ó Riain, meaning "descendant of Rian".[1] It can also be a shortened form of Mulryan or O'Mulryan, which are derived from the Gaelic Ó Maoilriain, meaning "descendant of the follower of Rian".[1][2]

The meaning of the Old Irish name Rian is unknown.[3] Some sources have suggested that it is related to the Old Irish word rían, meaning "water" or "ocean".[4][5] Others have suggested that it is related to the Old Irish word rí, meaning "king".[6][7] Both of these etymologies have been discounted by scholars, however.[3] According to John Ryan, Professor of Early and Medieval History at University College Dublin, "What the Rian in the surnames Ó Riain and Ó Maolriain is has never been satisfactorily explained. Rian, like Niall, seems to be so ancient that its meaning was lost before records began."[3]

Popular modern sources typically suggest that Ryan means "little king" or "illustrious".[2][8][9][10]

There are also cases in which Ryan is an Americanized form of the German surname Rein.[1]

## List of persons with the surname Ryan

[edit]

### A–D

[edit]

* Abram Joseph Ryan (1838–1886), Catholic priest, poet
* Aileen B. Ryan (1912–1987), New York politician
* Allan Ryan, American attorney
* Allan A. Ryan, Jr. (1903–1981), New York financier and politician
* Amy Ryan (born 1969), American actress
* Andrew Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Anne Ryan (artist) (1889–1954), American artist
* Anne Ryan (actress) (born 1969), American actress
* Archie Ryan (cyclist) (born 2001), Irish professional racing cyclist
* B. J. Ryan (Robert Victor Ryan Jr., born 1975), baseball player
* Barry Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Beatrice Judd Ryan (c. 1880–1966), Australian-American art dealer, curator
* Ben Ryan, rugby union coach
* Bernard Ryan (1900–1921), member of the IRA hanged in Dublin in 1921
* Bernard Ryan, Jr. (1923–2020), American author
* Bianca Ryan (born 1994), American singer and America's Got Talent winner
* Bill Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Billy Ryan (1887–1951), American football player
* Blanchard Ryan (born 1967), American actress
* Bo Ryan (William Francis Ryan Jr, born 1947), American basketball coach
* Bob Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Bobby Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Brendan Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Bruce Ryan (1921–2002), Australian rugby league footballer
* Buddy Ryan (1931–2016), American football coach
* Carly Ryan (1992–2007), Australian female murder victim
* Cathy Cahlin Ryan, American actress
* Cheyney Ryan (born 1948), American philosopher
* Chris Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Christopher Ryan (born 1950), British actor
* C. J. Ryan (1943–2004), British priest and scholar of Italian studies
* Claude Ryan (1925–2004), Canadian politician
* Cormac Ryan (born 1998), American basketball player
* Cornelius Ryan (1920–1974), Irish journalist and author
* C. W. Ryan (1869–1944), American politician
* Debby Ryan (born 1993), American actress
* Derek Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Donald P. Ryan (born 1957), American archaeologist and writer
* Donald P. Ryan (Wisconsin politician) (1909–1995), Wisconsin state legislator
* Donnell Ryan, Federal Court of Australia judge

### E–L

[edit]

* Edward Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Eileen Ryan (1927–2022), American actress
* Felix Ryan (1897–1963), Australian rugby league footballer
* Francis T. Ryan (1862–1927), American Medal of Honor recipient
* Frank Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Fred Ryan (born 1955), CEO of Politico.com, former aide to Ronald Reagan
* Frederick Ryan (1876–1913), Irish playwright and socialist
* George Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Gerry Ryan (1956–2010), Irish radio presenter
* Greg Ryan (born 1957), German-American soccer defender
* Gig Ryan (born 1956), Australian poet
* Harold M. Ryan (1911–2007), U.S. Representative from Michigan
* Ibolya Ryan, Hungarian-American murdered by an Arab in Abu Dhabi
* Ida Annah Ryan (1873–1950), American architect
* Ida Mary Barry Ryan (1854–1917), American philanthropist
* Irene Ryan (1902–1973), actress
* Jack Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Jane Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Jeff Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Jenny Ryan (born 1982), English quizzer
* Jeri Ryan (born 1968), U.S. actress
* Jim Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Jimmy Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Joan Ryan (politician) (born 1955), UK politician
* Joe Ryan (baseball) (born 1996), American baseball player
* John Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Jon Ryan (born 1981), Canadian gridiron football player
* Joseph Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Josephine Ryan (1884–1977), Irish nationalist
* Julie Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Kate Ryan (born 1980), Belgian singer and songwriter
* Katherine Ryan (born 1983), Canadian/Irish comedian, writer, presenter and actress
* Kathleen Ryan (1922–1985), Irish actress
* Kathryn Ryan, New Zealand radio journalist
* Kelleigh Ryan (born 1987), Canadian fencer
* Kevin Ryan (born 1949), New Zealand long-distance runner
* Kyle Ryan (born 1991), American baseball player
* Lacy Ryan, English actor
* Lance Ryan (born 1971), Canadian operatic tenor
* Leo Ryan (1925–1978), Congressman from San Francisco, killed at Jonestown
* Lee Ryan (born 1983), English singer-songwriter and actor
* Liam Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Liza Ryan (born 1965), American visual artist
* Lola Ryan (1925–2003), Australian artist
* Lucille Frances Ryan, better known as Lucy Lawless (born 1968), actress from New Zealand

### M–R

[edit]

* Michael Robert Ryan, a murderer from the UK
* Marion Ryan (1931–1999), British singer
* Mark Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Matthew Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Meg Ryan (born 1961), U.S. actress
* Michael Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Michelle Ryan (born c.1984), British actress
* Michelle Ryan, Australian choreographer, artistic director of Restless Dance Company
* Michelle K. Ryan (born 1973), Australian psychologist and academic
* Miles Ryan (1826–1887), Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross
* Mitchell Ryan (1934–2022), American actor
* Murray Ryan (American politician) (1922–2017), American politician
* Myles and Connor Ryan (born 1995), British singers
* Natalie Ryan, American disc golfer
* Nolan Ryan (born 1947), baseball player
* Patricia Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Patrick Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Paul Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Peggy Ryan (1924–2004), American dancer
* Perry T. Ryan (born 1962), American author
* Peter Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Phil Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Phyllis Ryan (1895–1983), Irish chemist and nationalist
* Phyllis Ryan (actress) (1920–2011), Irish actress
* Prestin Ryan (born 1980), Canadian ice hockey player
* Ray Ryan (hurler) (1981–2025), Irish hurler
* Ray Ryan (businessman) (1904–1977), American gambler, oilman, promoter, and developer
* Ray Ryan (baseball) (died 1958), minor league baseball player, manager, team owner and league president
* Rex Ryan (born 1962), American football coach; twin brother of Rob
* Richard Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Richie Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Rob Ryan (born 1962), American football coach; twin brother of Rex
* Robbi Ryan (born 1997), American basketball player
* Robert Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Ronald Ryan (1925–1967), (Last person to be legally executed in Australia.)
* Ross Ryan (born 1950), Australian singer-songwriter
* Roz Ryan (born 1951), American actress
* Ryder Ryan (born 1995), American baseball player

### S–Z

[edit]

* Séamus Ryan (1895–1933), Irish senator
* Sheila Ryan, (1921–1975), American actress
* Shawn Ryan (born 1966), American screenwriter and producer
* Sod Ryan (1905–1964), American football player
* T. Claude Ryan (1898–1982), American aviator and aeronautic engineer
* T. J. Ryan (Thomas Joseph Ryan, 1876–1921), Australian politician, premier of Queensland
* T. J. Ryan (hurler) (born 1974), Irish hurler
* Tomás Ryan (born 1944), Irish hurler
* Thomas Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Tim Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Tina Rivers Ryan, American curator, art historian
* Tommy Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Tony Ryan (1936–2007), Irish businessman
* Tony Ryan (scientist) (born 1962), British polymer chemist
* Una Ryan (born 1941), Malaysian born biologist
* Walter D'Arcy Ryan (1870–1934), lighting engineer
* Warren Ryan (born 1941), Australian rugby league football coach
* Will Ryan (1949–2021), American voice actor, singer, and comedian
* Willard Ryan (1890–1962), American football coach
* William Ryan (disambiguation), multiple people
* Yasmine Ryan (c. 1983 – 2017) New Zealand journalist

## Fictional characters

[edit]

* Aran Ryan, an opponent in Super NES video game Super Punch-Out!!
* Allison Ryan, a character played by Nicole Eggert in the 2008 movie Loaded
* Andrew Ryan, the founder of Rapture and a major character in the 2007 video game BioShock
* April Ryan, appearing in the computer adventure games The Longest Journey and Dreamfall
* Archie Ryan, the pseudonym of Lincoln Burrows, a fictional character from the television show Prison Break
* Barbara Ryan, character in the soap opera As the World Turns
* Beth Ryan, a character in the 1987 movie Throw Momma from the Train
* Bill, Emily, Lulu, and Sandy Ryan, characters from American television sitcom United We Fall
* Burke Ryan, a character in the 2009 American romantic drama movie Love Happens
* Caitlin Ryan, a character in the Degrassi franchise
* Frank Ryan, a character in the 1934 film The Man Who Changed His Name
* Jack Ryan, a separate character and the primary protagonist of the 2007 video game BioShock
* Jack Ryan, in Tom Clancy books and film adaptations
* Jake Ryan, character in Sixteen Candles/Hannah Montana, TV character portrayed by Cody Linley
* James Francis Ryan, character in the 1998 American war film Saving Private Ryan
* Kevin Ryan, secondary character of the TV thriller show Castle
* Mary Ryan, also known aka Blue Mary, a character in the Fatal Fury series and The King of Fighters
* Mr. Ryan, a character in the 1989 American science fiction comedy movie Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
* Nory Ryan, main character in book Nory Ryan's Song by Patricia Reilly Giff
* Paul Ryan, a character on American daytime serial As the World Turns
* Rachel, Robbie, and Tom Ryan, characters in the 2006 American parody Scary Movie 4
* Richie Ryan, fictional character in Highlander: The Series
* Robert Charles "Rusty" Ryan in Ocean's 11, 12, and 13
* Professor Sam Ryan, character in the television series Silent Witness
* Tommy Ryan, a character in the 1997 film Titanic

## See also

[edit]

* Rayan (Persian given name)
* Rhyan, given name and surname

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d Hanks, Patrick (2003). Dictionary of American Family Names. Vol. 3\. Oxford University Press. p. 242\. ISBN 0195081374.
2. ^ a b c Grehan, Ida (1997). The Dictionary of Irish Family Names. Lanham, Maryland: Roberts Rinehart Publishers. p. 299. ISBN 1568332246.
3. ^ a b c MacLysaght, Edward (1964). A Guide to Irish Surnames. Helicon. p. 15.
4. ^ "Ryan". The Internet Surname Database. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
5. ^ "rían". eDIL - Irish Language Dictionary. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
6. ^ O'Boyle, Fragrance (2008). Irish Baby Names. United Kingdom: IBN Publishing. p. 125\. ISBN 978-0955805707.
7. ^ "rí". eDIL - Irish Language Dictionary. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
8. ^ Grehan, Ida (1997). A little book of Irish family names. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. p. 56. ISBN 0811812863.
9. ^ Smith, Elsdon C. (1969). American Surnames. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company. p. 88. ISBN 0806311509.
10. ^ Rosenkrantz, Linda; Satran, Pamela Redmond (2002). Baby Names Now: From Classic to Cool—The Very Last Word on First Names. New York: St. Martin's Paperbacks. p. 419. ISBN 0312983689.

## Bibliography

[edit]

* Laffan, Thomas (1911). Tipperary Families : Being The Hearth Money Records for 1665–1667. James Duffy & Co.

## External links

[edit]

* "Uí Dróna Kingdom" by Niall C. E. J. O'Brien, April 27, 2015, Medieval News

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Surname list

This page lists people with the surname Ryan.
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