Riley (surname)
Riley is a surname of English origin, as well as an Anglicized version of an Irish surname.
The name has the meaning "rye clearing", or is from one of several placenames, including High Riley in Accrington, Lancashire, and in Devon. In the United Kingdom Census 1881, more than a third of Rileys were in Lancashire; it was most prevalent in the east of the county and over the boundary into the Calder Valley in Yorkshire, and the name could be found in these areas from the 13th century. The name is also an Anglicized version of the Irish surname O'Reilly. This is derived from the first name Raghallach; the Gaelic version of the surname, Ó Raghallaigh, is Irish for 'grandson of Raghallach'.
People with the surname
A
- Aaron Riley, American mixed martial artist
- Adam Riley, English cricketer
- Adrian Riley, British graphic designer
- Aidan Riley, Australian rules footballer
- Al Riley, American politician
- Alan Incell Riley, British Air Force pilot
- Alban Riley, Australian politician
- Ali Riley, American-New Zealand footballer
- Alice Riley, American author
- Alexander Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Alrick Riley, English television director
- Amber Riley, American actress and singer
- Andrea Riley, American basketball player
- Andrew Riley, Jamaican sprinter
- Andy Riley, British writer and cartoonist
- Angela R. Riley, American jurist
- Antonio R. Riley, American politician
- Arthur Riley, South African footballer
- Arthur Dewhurst Riley, English-New Zealand artist
- Ashley Riley, Bahamian sprinter
- Atsuro Riley, American writer
- Audrey Riley, English cellist
- Austin Riley, American baseball player
- Avon Riley, American football player
B
- Barbara Riley, American civil servant
- Barbra Riley, American photographer
- Bennet C. Riley, American politician
- Bernard Riley, American football player
- Bill Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ben Riley, American jazz drummer
- Ben Riley (politician), British politician
- Bernard Riley, American football player
- Blair Riley, Canadian ice hockey player
- Bob Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Boots Riley, American vocalist
- Brad Riley, New Zealand basketball player
- Brett Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Brian Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Bridget Riley, British op-art painter
- Bridgett Riley, American boxer
- Brittany Riley, American hammer thrower
- Bud Riley, American football coach
- Burke Riley, American state legislator
C
- Camden Riley, American soccer player
- Catherine Riley, American politician
- Celeste Riley, American politician
- Chad Riley, American soccer coach
- Chantel Riley, Jamaican-Canadian actress
- Charles Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Charlotte Riley, English actress
- Cheryl Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Chris Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Christopher Riley, English writer and film maker
- Chuck Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Claude Riley, American basketball player
- Clay Riley, American politician
- Clement A. Riley, American politician
- Cliff Riley, Australian rules footballer
- Corinne Boyd Riley, American politician
- Curtis Riley, American football player
D
- Daniel Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- David Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Davis Riley, American golfer
- Dawn Riley, American sailor
- Delbert Riley, Canadian First Nations leader
- Del Riley (clerk), American politician
- Denise Riley, English professor
- Dennis Riley, American composer
- Dennis L. Riley, American politician
- Derek Riley, Canadian rower
- Dick Riley, American politician
- Donna Riley, American professor
- Dorothy Comstock Riley, American lawyer
- Doug Riley, Canadian musician
- Duke Riley (artist), American artist
- Duke Riley (American football), American football player
- Dylan Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
E
- Earl Riley, American politician and businessman
- Edna G. Riley, American screenwriter
- Edward Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Edwin Riley, English cricketer
- Elaine Riley, American actress
- Eleanor Riley, English professor
- Elijah Riley, American football player
- Elizabeth Riley, American abolitionist
- Emily Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Emmett Riley, American politician
- Eric Riley, American basketball player
- Erin M. Riley, American artist
- Eron Riley, American football player
- Estela Riley, Panamanian judoka
- Ezra Riley, Canadian politician
F
- Felix Riley, British novelist
- Fletcher Riley, American judge
- Ford Riley, American producer
- Frank Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Frederick Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Freida J. Riley, American teacher
G
- Garrett Riley, American football coach
- Gary Riley, American actor
- George Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Gillian Riley, English writer
- Gina Riley, Australian actor
- Glenn Riley, English rugby league footballer
- Glyn Riley, English footballer
- Gordon Arthur Riley, American oceanographer
- Guy Riley, British Army officer
- Gwendoline Riley, English writer
- Gyan Riley, American guitarist
H
- Harold Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Harry Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Harry Lister Riley, British Chemist
- Hayden Riley, American basketball coach
- H. Chauncey Riley, English missionary
- Helen Caldwell Day Riley, American nurse
- Henry Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Herbert D. Riley, American admiral
- Herlin Riley, American jazz drummer
- Herman Riley, American saxophone player
- Horrie Riley, Australian rules footballer
- Howard Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- H. Sanford Riley, Canadian lawyer
- Hughen Riley, English footballer
I
- Ida Morey Riley, American teacher
- Isaac Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ivan Riley, American athlete
- Ivers Riley, American financier
J
- Jack Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jake Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jalen Riley, American basketball player
- James Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Janet Mary Riley, American activist
- Jason Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jeannie C. Riley, American singer
- Jeannine Riley, American actress
- Jeff Riley, Australian rules footballer
- Jenelle Riley, American actress
- Jim Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jo Riley, British writer
- Joan Riley, Jamaican-British author
- Joe Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Joellen Riley, Australian lawyer
- John Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jonathan Riley, American philosopher
- Jonathon Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jordon Riley, American football player
- Joseph Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Judith Merkle Riley, American writer
- Julia Riley, English astrophysicist
K
- Karen Riley, American psychologist
- Karon Riley, American football player
- Kate Riley, American television presenter
- Ken Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Kevin Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Kurt Riley, American musician
L
- Laken Riley, American murder victim
- Larry Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Lawrence Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Leanne Riley, English rugby union footballer
- Lee Riley, American football player
- Leon Riley, American basketball player
- Les Riley, English cricketer
- Lincoln Riley, American football coach
- Linda Riley, British journalist
- Lisa Riley, English actress
- Llewellyn Riley, Barbadian footballer
- Lou Riley, Australian rules footballer
- Lucinda Riley, Irish author
- Luther Riley, American basketball coach
- Lynne Riley, American politician
M
- Maggie Riley, English actress
- Malcolm Riley, British musician
- Marc Riley, British musician
- Marcus Riley, American football player
- Margaret Riley, American film producer
- Mark Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Martin Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Mary Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Matt Riley, American baseball player
- Michael Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Mike Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Monique Riley, Australian actress
- Murray Riley, Australian rower
- Mykal Riley, American basketball player
N
- Nancy Riley, American politician
- Napoleon Riley, American football player
- Nicky Riley, Scottish footballer
- Norma Riley, American electrical engineer
- Norman Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
P
- Pat Riley, American basketball coach
- Pat Riley (American football), American football player
- Patrick Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Paul Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Perry Riley, American football player
- Peter Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Phil Riley, English radio personality
- Phillip Riley, American football player
- Polly Riley, American golfer
- Preston Riley, American football player
Q
- Quincy Riley, American football player
- Quintin Riley, British explorer
R
- Rachael Riley, Canadian artistic gymnast
- Rachel Riley, English television presenter
- Raf Riley, English record producer
- Ralph Riley, British geneticist
- Raven Riley, American actress
- Regan Riley, English footballer
- Richard Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Robert Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Rochelle Riley, American columnist
- Roderick Riley, American basketball player
- Ronald Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Rueben Riley, American football player
- Ruth Riley, American basketball player
- Ryan Max Riley, American humorist and skier
S
- Sally Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Sam Riley, English actor
- Sam Riley (rugby union), English rugby union footballer
- Samantha Riley, Australian swimmer
- Scribz Riley, English producer
- Sean Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Sharon Riley, Puerto Rican actress
- Sid Riley, Australian rugby union footballer
- Stevan Riley, British film director
- Steven Riley, English immunologist
- Steve Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Susan Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
T
- Talay Riley, British singer-songwriter
- Talulah Riley, English actress
- Tarrus Riley, Jamaican-American reggae singer
- Teddy Riley, American producer
- Teddy Riley (trumpeter), American jazz trumpeter
- Terence Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Terry Riley, American composer
- Theodore M. Riley, American priest
- Thomas Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Tim Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Tracy Riley, New Zealand academic administrator
- Trevor Riley, Australian judge
V
- Vanessa Riley, American author
- Victor Riley, American football player
- Viddal Riley, British boxer and internet personality
W
- Wayne Riley, Australian golfer
- W. C. Riley, American football coach
- Will Riley, Canadian basketball player
- Winston Riley, Jamaican singer
- William Riley (disambiguation), multiple people
- Woodbridge Riley, American scholar
Fictional characters with the surname
- Riley family, fictional family in TV series One Life to Live
- Cpl. Scott Riley, character in Call of Duty: United Offensive
- Simon "Ghost" Riley, major character in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and it's reboot
- Riley, a fictional dog from Call of Duty: Ghost
- Mavis Riley (later Wilton), character from the British soap opera Coronation Street
- Concepta Riley (later Hewitt and Regan), character from the British soap opera Coronation Street
- William "Will" Riley, player character from the video game ''American Fugitive''