Rickard
A surname usually from Richard, meaning “son of Richard” or a family form of the personal name Richard.
The #3,886 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 33,824 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Rickard is generally a variant form of Richard, itself from the Germanic name composed of elements meaning “power” or “rule” and “hardy,” “strong,” or “brave.” In English surname use, Rickard was often treated as a hereditary family name built from the familiar medieval personal name Richard. Some historical spellings also show Rickart or related forms, reflecting local pronunciation and later spelling variation.
History
English surname writers record Rickard as an established variant of Richard, with forms such as Rickards and Rickardson also appearing. It is found in medieval and later records, especially in England, and the name has been carried into the United States and elsewhere through migration. Some sources note related regional spellings and Anglicized forms, but the core connection to Richard is straightforward.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Some 19th-century surname dictionaries treated Rickard as so close to Richard that they cross-referenced it directly instead of giving a separate origin.
From the historical record
“RICKARBY}Y-R''"<«-»'y. RICKARD = Rlcard, Richard, q.v. RICKARDS, Rickard's (Son). RICKARDSON, Rickard's Son. RICKART, an Anglicized (or rather American- ized)form of the DntchRijkaart^ Rickard, Richard, q.v. RICKARTS, Rickart's (Son). RICKARTSON, Rickart'S Son.”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)