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O'ryan Family History

O'ryan Name Meaning

(Leinster) Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Riagháin (modern Irish Ó Riain) ‘descendant of Rian, earlier Riaghán’, a personal name of uncertain etymology. See also Ryan. (Munster) Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Maoilriain ‘descendant of Maoilriaghain’, a personal name meaning ‘follower of Riaghán’. (Connacht) Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Ruaidhín ‘descendant of the little red one’, from a diminutive of ruadh ‘red’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Ryan, Cryan, O'regan, Toran, O'dea, Oran, Orman, O'dean, Bryan, Organ

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Where is the O'ryan family from?

You can see how O'ryan families moved over time by selecting different census years. The O'ryan family name was found in the USA, and Scotland between 1880 and 1920. The most O'ryan families were found in USA in 1880. In 1880 there were 20 O'ryan families living in New York. This was about 45% of all the recorded O'ryan's in USA. New York had the highest population of O'ryan families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the O'ryan surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your O'ryan ancestors do for a living?

Census records can tell you a lot of little known facts about your O'ryan ancestors, such as occupation. Occupation can tell you about your ancestor's social and economic status.

What O'ryan family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name O'ryan. Like a window into their day-to-day life, O'ryan census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

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Passenger Lists

There are 847 immigration records available for the last name O'ryan. 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.

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Draft Cards

There are 372 military records available for the last name O'ryan. For the veterans among your O'ryan ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average O'ryan lifespan?

Between 2001 and 2002, in the United States, O'ryan life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2001, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for O'ryan in 2001 was 55, and 61 in 2002.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for O'ryan

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