Rys

Rys is a term that can refer to several subjects, most commonly as a surname in Slavic-language contexts and, in Polish, as a form related to the word for a wild cat. In non-Polish texts, the name may appear without diacritical marks as “Rys.”

In Polish, the word for the lynx is ryś, the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx). The lynx is a medium-sized wild cat native to forests across Europe and Asia, characterized by tufted ears, a short tail, and strong hind legs. The Polish term ryś is used in natural history, wildlife reporting, and folk usage to denote this species. The form without diacritics, rys, may be encountered in cross-linguistic contexts or in proper nouns adopted outside Poland.

As a surname, Rys (often written with the Polish diacritic variant Ryś) occurs in Poland and among people of Polish or Slavic descent. Surnames of this type are typically derived from nicknames or occupations linked to the lynx, or from place-based or familial names that incorporate the root. In many cases, individuals with the surname Rys are found in various professional fields, and the name may require disambiguation in biographical or historical references.

Rys may also appear in broader cultural or literary contexts as a given name or character name, though such uses are less standardized and highly dependent on locale and language.

See also: Ryś, the Polish term for the lynx; Ryss, a variant spelling encountered in some languages.