RYVES

This unusual and interesting name is of Norman, French origin, and is a locational surname deriving from the place called "Rievaulx" in North Yorkshire. The normal English vernacular pronunciation of the placename is 'Rivers', and this local form of the name has generated the phonetically-spelt surnames Rivis, Revis and Ryves. The placename was originally 'Ryedale', the valley of the (River) Rye, which was translated into the French "Rievaulx". The place is recorded in 1148 as "Rieuall", and in 1157 as "Rievalle". The river name "Rye" is from the ancient British (pre-Roman) and Welsh 'rhiw', meaning hill, ascent. The surname development has included Richard Ryvax (1414, Yorkshire), Thomas Revis (1588, ibid.) and Anne Revisse (1589, ibid.). Philip Ryves and Elizabeth Plumer were married in London on January 24th 1565, and one William Ryves was christened at Kirklington in Yorkshire, on May 1st 1568.