Ridlington History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Ridlington was first found in West Lancashire at Wrightington, a township, in the parish of Eccleston, union of Wigan, hundred of Leyland. "This was a member of the extensive barony of Manchester. The lordship was given by Albert de Gresley to Orm, son of Ailward or Edward, progenitor of the Ashtons, of Ashton; and his descendants were called de Wrightington. Robert Dicconson, of Eccleston, married Anne, daughter of John Wrightington, and was grandfather of William, who was convicted of high treason in the reign of William III. " 1

The name literally evolves from "Wrichtington, Wrightinton = the Estate of the Wyrhta Family [Anglo-Saxon - Wyrhtinga-tún-wyrhta, a wright, worker + -inga, genit. pl. of the son suff. -ing + tún, estate, etc.]" 2

"Wrightington first became Rightington, then Riddington; compare Ridlington." 3 Taking this noted author up on his suggestion, the entry for Ridlington notes a parish in Norfolk and a parish in Rutland. He also found that the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Adam de Wrydlington, Cambridgeshire; and Ralph de Wridlingtone, Cambridgeshire. The Wills at Chester include an entry for Mary Wrightington, of Wrightington, 1580. 3

Ridlington, Norfolk dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was known as Ridlinketuna 4 and in Leicestershire, that parish was recorded Redlinctune at that time. 4 5

Wrightington Hall in Wrightington was the home of the Wrightington family for several centuries. When Sir Edward Wrightington died in 1658, his heir, Hugh Dicconson, erected a noble tomb for Sir Edward in St Wilfred's Parish Church, Standish.

The truncated for of the name which is typically spelt Reading, Ridding, Riding, etc., claims Lancashire as their ancient homestead too, for it is there that Grifin del Ruding was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1246. 6