Rioch Surname History

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Rioch

What does the name Rioch mean?

The Scottish Rioch surname comes from the Gaelic "riabhach," meaning "brindled," or "grayish;" as such, it was thought to have been a nickname for someone with streaks of gray or white hair. 1

Early Origins of the Rioch family

The surname Rioch was first found in Inverness, where one of the first records of the family was John Reoch, Burgess of Inverness in 1452. Part of the lands of Parcy or Parcyis were leased to Alan Reoch or Roeoch in 1463 and Robert Reauch and Finlay Reauch were tenants on lands of the bishopric of Aberdeen in 1511.

Early History of the Rioch family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rioch research. Another 127 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1452, 1514, 1530, 1539, 1544 and 1550 are included under the topic Early Rioch History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rioch Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Reach, Reoch, Rioch, Riach, Riaech and others.

Early Notables of the Rioch family

More information is included under the topic Early Rioch Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Rioch family to Ireland

Some of the Rioch family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Rioch family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Charles Reach who settled in Nantucket Massachusetts in 1823; Janet Reach and her husband settled in Savannah, Georgia in 1775; John Reach settled in Virginia in 1654.

The Rioch Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fide et fortitudine
Motto Translation: By fidelity and fortitude.

Sources +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)