Risley
English
editAlternative forms
edit- (surname): Wrisley
Etymology
editFrom Old English hrīs (“twig, branch; brushwood”) + lēah (“woodland clearing, glade”); equivalent to rice + -ley (“lea”). The circus term comes from the name of Richard Risley Carlisle (1814–1874), who developed this kind of act in the United States.
Proper noun
editRisley (countable and uncountable, plural Risleys)
- (uncountable) A placename:
- A suburban area in Warrington borough, Cheshire, England (OS grid ref SJ6592).
- A village and civil parish (served by Risley with Hopwell Parish Council) in Erewash borough, Derbyshire, England (OS grid ref SK4635).
- (countable) A habitational surname from Old English.
Statistics
edit- According to the 2010 United States Census, Risley is the 8213rd most common surname in the United States, belonging to 4040 individuals. Risley is most common among White (93.42%) individuals.
Noun
editRisley (plural Risleys)
- (sometimes attributive) A circus performer who performs antipodism, lying on the back while carrying burdens on the feet.
Further reading
edit- Hanks, Patrick, editor (2003), “Risley”, in Dictionary of American Family Names, volume 3, New York City: Oxford University Press, →ISBN.
Anagrams
editCategories:
- English terms derived from Old English
- English terms suffixed with -leigh
- English lemmas
- English proper nouns
- English uncountable nouns
- English countable nouns
- en:Suburbs in Cheshire, England
- en:Places in Cheshire, England
- en:Places in England
- en:Villages in Derbyshire, England
- en:Villages in England
- en:Civil parishes of England
- en:Places in Derbyshire, England
- English surnames
- English surnames from Old English
- English nouns
- English eponyms