Green’s Dictionary of Slang

the generic name for a costermonger’s woman, often a coster herself.

1865		Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 62/2: The trio was made up with the ‘moll of the drum,’ Maria (or as she called herself for shortness) ’Ria Hogg.
1887		Bessie Bellwood ‘What Cheer ’Ria’ 🎵 What cheer ’Ria! ’Ria’s on the job, / What cheer ’Ria! did you speculate a bob?
1888		R. Barnett Police Sergeant C 21 258: A rya dressed up to the knocker passes and takes a good look at me.
1892		F. Anstey Mr Punch’s Model Music Hall 99: Miss Bessie Bellwood sings ‘What Cheer, ’Ria?’ at the Lyceum.
1909		J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 208/2: ’Ria (Maria). Passing to ’Aryet (Harriet). The typical name of the costermonger’s young lady – a coster herself.
1914		E. Pugh Cockney At Home 65: ’Ria Green arst one on ’em, ‘Please, Mister Policeman, what did you leave home for?’.
1953		J. Franklyn Cockney 285: The modern ‘Ria’, when doing the equivalent of ‘speculating a bob’, puts on the guiver; but her evening’s entertainment might also be described as, ‘going in posh places and swanking she is someone’.