Ridgewell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Ridgewell

What does the name Ridgewell mean?

The illustrious surname Ridgewell derives its name from Ridgewell, a parish, in the union of Halsted, hundred of Hinckford, N. division of Essex. "Ridgewell is supposed to have been a Roman station, and a tessellated pavement has been found." 1

The name of the place is a compound of the words "ridge" and "well," though at the time "well" signified a natural spring more than what we think of as a well today. Collectively the name means "spring or stream where reeds grow." 2

Early Origins of the Ridgewell family

The surname Ridgewell was first found in Essex, at Ridgewell which dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was recorded as Rideuuella. 3

Early History of the Ridgewell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ridgewell research. Another 34 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1281, 1867, 1929 and 1935 are included under the topic Early Ridgewell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ridgewell Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Ridgewell family name include Ridgewell, Ridgwell, Redgewell, Redgwell and others.

Early Notables of the Ridgewell family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

George Ridgwell (sometimes spelt Ridgewell) (1867-1935), a British screenwriter and film director of the silent film era...

Ridgewell migration to the United States +

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Ridgewell surname or a spelling variation of the name include:

Ridgewell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Ridgewell, who arrived in Portsmouth, Vermont in 1865

Ridgewell migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Ridgewell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

George Ridgewell, English convict from Essex, who was transported aboard the "Arab" on February 22, 1834, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Ridgewell (post 1700) +

Audrey Ridgewell (1905-1968), American actress from Clarksville, Tennessee, known for Love, Life and Laughter (1923), His Double Life (1933) and Kraft Theatre (1947), daughter of George Ridgwell, the silent film director
Anna Ridgewell, American medical researcher
Caitlin Ridgewell, American published researcher at Boston University
Kathleen Ann Ridgewell (b. 1965), birth name of Kathleen Ann Ridgewell-Williams, an American former soccer player who played as a forward, making three appearances for the United States women's national team
Liam Matthew Ridgewell (b. 1984), English retired professional footballer from Bexleyheath, in the London Borough of Bexley who played 431 matches as a defender including 9 for the England National Team
Lilian Ridgewell (1912-1997), British gymnast who competed in the women's artistic team all-around event at the 1936 Summer Olympics
Thomas James Ridgewell (b. 1990), known online as TomSka, a British filmmaker, actor, content creator, and vlogger, his YouTube channel has over 7.98 million subscribers and his videos have garnered over 2.1 billion views
Samantha Ridgewell (b. 1996), Canadian ice hockey goaltender from Outlook, Saskatchewan currently playing with the Toronto Six in the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL)
Ridgewell Hawkes (1950-2012), English actor from Stepney, London, known for Tangiers (1982), Big Deal (1984) and Jemima Shore Investigates (1983)

The Ridgewell Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Mihi Gravato Deus
Motto Translation: Let God lay the burden on me.

Sources +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Arab voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1834 with 230 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/arab/1834