| ![Show Contents]() Riedel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Riedel was carried to England in the enormous movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Riedel family lived in Yorkshire at Ryedale or in Westmorland at Rydal with Loughrigg. The name Riddell and its variants occur in both locations. Riedel is a classic example of an English polygenetic surname, which is a surname that was developed in a number of different locations and adopted by various families independently. The family is "descended from the ancient Counts of Angouleme, who claim to have received their fief from Charles the Bald in 866. The surname was first assumed about 1048 by Galfrid or Geoffrey, the second son of Count Galfrid,who had for his inheritance the barony of Blaye in Guienne, and married the heiress of Perigord." 1 Early Origins of the Riedel familyThe surname Riedel was first found in Aquitaine where this baronial name was derived from a Gothic race. It was here that the Baron of Blaye (c. 1030) granted lands to the Abbey of Fons Dulcis near Bordeaux. This grant was confirmed by Gerald de Blavia and one of his sons Geoffre Rudelli (Ridel.) The latter lived 1079-1099 and left for Scotland during the time of King David I. Upon his arrival, he received grants of lands. He was the ancestor of the Riddells, Baronets. 2 "Almost all the versions of the Battle Abbey Roll include the name of Ridel. By reference to the first volume of "Pipe Rolls," edited by Mr. Stapleton, it will be seen at p. 119, that Geoffrey Ridel rendered account for himself and for Geoffrey de St. Denis of forty shillings for two copes. It was by this tenure that the fief of Blosseville in the pays de Caux, was held, which gave to the possessor in later times the title of Vicomte hereditaire, Chatelain et Seigneur Haut Justicier de Blosseville. This entry proves that the Ridels originally existed in Normandy. The first of the race, explicitly proved to have been settled in Scotland, is Gervasius Ridel, the earliest High Sheriff of Rosburghshire. The Norman Ridel was ancestor also of the eminent Northumbrian House of Riddell of Fenham and Swinburne Castle." 3 Stephen Ridell was appointed Lord Chancellor of Ireland in 1186 and years later Stephen Riddel was Lord Chancellor of Ireland (c. 1313-1318). A member of the family of Picard changed his name to Ruddle, at the instance of King Edward IV., to denote his birthplace. 2 "Hugh de Ridel was one of the hostages given to Henry II. for William the Lion, King of Scots, having acquired through his wife, Margaret de St. Medard, the manor of Cranston in Scotland, which was lost in the subsequent Scottish wars, and Withering in Northamptonshire, held for three hundred years and upwards by his descendants." 1 In Scotland, "the Ridels never prefixed de, and the de Rydales invariably did so because they came from a place so-called. The first Ridel of Craneston was probably Gervasius Ridel who appears as a witness in the Inquisttio of Earl David as to the extent of the lands of the church of Glasgow, c. 1124, and was most probably a descendant of the Galfridus Ridel de Blaye of 1048. At this day the name is a strictly personal one in Normandy. Gervasius also appears as a witness to charters in the reigns of Alxander I and David I. The first of the Riddells of that Ilk was Walter de Ridale or Riddale who received a charter from King David, c. 1150, of the lands of Whitimes (an error for Whittune), Eschetho I to which he transferred the name of his Yorkshire property, and Lilislive (now Lilliesleaf). He also appears as a witness in many charters in the cartularies of Dryburgh, Holyrood, Glasgow, Newbattle, Cambuskenneth, Dunfermline, etc. He died without issue, c. 1155, and left his property to his brother Anschetil or Ansketil de Riddel by a will which was confirmed by Pope Adrian IV." 4 Early History of the Riedel familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Riedel research. Another 224 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1030, 1106, 1124, 1577, 1582, 1590, 1595, 1601, 1602, 1604, 1616, 1632, 1652, 1663, 1664, 1669, 1674, 1700, 1747 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Riedel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Riedel Spelling VariationsEndless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Riddell, Riddle, Riddall, Riddells, Ridel and others. Early Notables of the Riedel familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir John Riddell, 1st Baronet (d. 1632); Sir Walter Riddell, 2nd Baronet (d. c. 1669); Sir John Riddell, 3rd Baronet (d...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Riedel Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Riedel RankingIn the United States, the name Riedel is the 5,257th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 5  Migration of the Riedel family to Ireland
Some of the Riedel family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 69 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Riedel migration to the United States | + |
To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Riedel or a variant listed above:
Riedel Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Frederic Riedel, who arrived in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1735 6
- Catherine Riedel, who landed in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1736 6
- Georg Friedrich Riedel, who arrived in New York, NY in 1781 6
Riedel Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Heinrich Riedel, who landed in North America in 1838 6
- Maria Elisabeth Riedel, aged 36, who arrived in America in 1840 6
- Mr. Anton Riedel, from Germany who arrived in Galveston, Texas aboard the ship "Herschel" in 1844
- Mrs. Franziska Riedel, (nee Hombach), from Germany who arrived in Galveston, Texas aboard the ship "Herschel" in 1844
- Mr. Nicolaus Riedel, aged 34, from Germany who arrived in Galveston, Texas aboard the ship "Herschel" in 1844, he died in 1845
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Riedel migration to New Zealand | + |
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Riedel Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- Wilhelm Riedel, aged 44, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Golden Sea" in 1874
| Contemporary Notables of the name Riedel (post 1700) | + |
- Mrs. Thomas Riedel, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Iowa, 1936 7
- Marjorie Riedel, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Colorado, 1932 7
- John G. Riedel, American politician, Social Democratic Candidate for Wisconsin State Assembly from Sheboygan County 1st District, 1902 7
- Georg Riedel (1934-2024), Czechoslovak-born Swedish double bass player and composer
- Ryszard Riedel (1956-1994), Polish blues singer/songwriter
- Ludwig Riedel (1790-1861), German botanist
- Klaus Riedel (1907-1944), German rocket pioneer
- Beau Riedel (b. 1975), Canadian-born ice hockey goalie
| Historic Events for the Riedel family | + |
Bismarck - Heinrich Riedel (1916-1941), German Mechanikersmaat (A) who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 8
- Karl-Heinz Riedel (1921-1941), German Maschinengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 8
- Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 24) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
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Riedel migration to the United States 
Riedel migration to New Zealand 
England
Ireland
Scotland
