<P> Rice is a surname that is frequently of Welsh origin, but also can be Irish, English, or even German . In Wales it is a patronymic surname, an Anglicized transliteration of Rhys, as are Reese and Reece . The German name Reiss has also been transliterated as Rice in the United States . </P> <Ul> <Li> Abbott Barnes Rice (1862--1926), businessman and Massachusetts state legislator </Li> <Li> Albert E. Rice (1845--1921), U.S. politician, Lt. Governor of Minnesota </Li> <Li> Alex Rice (born 1972), Canadian First Nations actress </Li> <Li> Alexander H. Rice, Jr. (1875--1956), U.S. geographer and explorer </Li> <Li> Alexander H. Rice (1818--1895), U.S. politician, Governor of Massachusetts </Li> <Li> Alice Hegan Rice (1870--1942), U.S. novelist </Li> <Li> Alice May Bates Rice (1868 - after 1907), American singer </Li> <Li> Americus Vespucius Rice (1835--1904), U.S. Civil War general (Union) and U.S. Congressman </Li> <Li> Amy Rice (born 1966), U.S. Rhode Island state politician </Li> <Li> Andrew Rice (born 1973), Oklahoma state senator </Li> <Li> Andrew E. Rice (1922 - 2010), Founder of Peace Corps and Society for International Development </Li> <Li> Anna Rice (born 1980), Canadian badminton player </Li> <Li> Anne Rice (born 1941), U.S. author of Gothic and religious themed novels </Li> <Li> Anneka Rice (born 1958), British television presenter </Li> <Li> Arthur Rice, 6th Baron Dynevor (1836--1911) </Li> </Ul>

Where does the last name rice come from