History of your Surname
Get access to Ritter family records.Start a free trial

Ritter Family History

Ritter Name Meaning

German: from Middle High German rit(t)er ‘knight mounted warrior’ Middle Low German ridder applied as a status name occupational name or nickname. Compare Knight . English (Middlesex): perhaps a nickname from an agent derivative of Middle English ritten ‘to cut open split’ usually referring to the use of a blade. Compare Render .

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Bitter, Gritter, Gitter, Witter, Rotter, Reitter, Mitter, Risner

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Ritter family from?

You can see how Ritter families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ritter family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Ritter families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 64 Ritter families living in Ontario. This was about 52% of all the recorded Ritter's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Ritter families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ritter surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Ritter ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Dressmaker were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Ritter. 64% of Ritter men worked as a Farmer and 34% of Ritter women worked as a Dressmaker. Some less common occupations for Americans named Ritter were Retired and Chambermaid. .

View Census Data for Ritter | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1921

  • Farmer
    64%
  • Farmers Son
    8%
  • Carpenter
    8%
  • Retired
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Dressmaker
    34%
  • Couturire
    23%
  • Stenographer
    23%
  • Chambermaid
    23%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Ritter family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 149,000 census records available for the last name Ritter. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ritter census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Ritter

Passenger Lists

There are 23,000 immigration records available for the last name Ritter. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Ritter immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 79,000 military records available for the last name Ritter. For the veterans among your Ritter ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Ritter military records

You've only scratched the surface of Ritter family history

Discover More

What is the average Ritter lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Ritter life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Ritter in 1941 was 45, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ritter

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Ritter family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Ritter last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial