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Riddle History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Riddle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Belgium
England
Scotland

Early Origins of the Riddle family

The surname Riddle was first found in Belgium, where the name became noted for its many branches in the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region. Riddle is of Norman origin, the surname having been created from the personal name Ridel. The source of this personal name is somewhat uncertain: some scholars think it may come from the Old French word 'ridel,' which meant "small hill," others cite the Germanic word 'rid,' which meant "ride." The Normans, originally of Viking origin established their presence in Normandy in the 900s, and by the second half of the 11th century held present day Belgium, Holland, most of France, much of the British Isles, Southern Italy, and parts of Spain. Forms of this surname likely traveled amongst Norman controlled territories. The name was a baronial name in Aquitaine, France, where the first recorded instance of Riddle is of Gerard Riddell, Baron of Blaye, who was granted lands of the Abbey of Fons Dulcis near Bordeaux in circa 1030. One branch of the family possessed estates in Normandy in 1165. A Geoffry Ridel, recorded in Normandy in 1180 was later recorded in Scotland and received grants from King David I. The name is also known to have accompanied William I's Norman Conquest of England, which began in 1066. Bearers of Riddle were certainly a most influential family.

Early History of the Riddle family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Riddle research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the year 1628 is included under the topic Early Riddle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Riddle Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Riddel, Riddle, Riddall, Ridal, Ridel, Riddle, Riddler, Riddell, De Riddler and many more.

Early Notables of the Riddle family

More information is included under the topic Early Riddle Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Riddle Ranking

In the United States, the name Riddle is the 871^st most popular surname with an estimated 34,818 people with that name. 1

Riddle migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Riddle Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Eliz Riddle, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 2
Thomas Riddle, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 2
Robert Riddle, who arrived in New England in 1718 2
Hugh Riddle, who arrived in New England in 1718 2
Margaret Riddle, who arrived in Virginia in 1722 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Riddle Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Johan Riddle, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1803 2
Christopher Riddle, aged 30, who landed in New York in 1812 2
Samuel Riddle, who landed in Norfolk, Va in 1817 2
Charles Riddle, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1838 2
Maxwell Riddle, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1839 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Riddle migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Riddle Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Riddle, who was recorded in Nova Scotia in 1750

Riddle Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Riddle, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Billow" in 1833
Isabella Riddle, aged 30, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Billow" in 1833
Walter Riddle, aged 6, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Billow" in 1833
William Riddle, aged 24, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Perseus" in 1834

Riddle migration to Australia +

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

Riddle Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William Riddle, a baker, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
Mr. John Riddle, English convict who was convicted in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 24th March 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 3
Mr. William Riddle, (b. 1822), aged 21, English labourer who was convicted in Salford, Greater Manchester, England for 10 years for theft transported aboard the "Forfarshire" on 24th June 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1901 4
Thomas Riddle, English convict from Nottingham, who was transported aboard the "Agincourt" on July 6, 1844, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 5
Mr. James Riddle, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Equestrian" on 30th June 1845, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Riddle 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:

Riddle Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

James Riddle, aged 27, a farm servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" in 1840 7
Mr. James Riddle, Scottish ploughman from Glasgow travelling from Leith aboard the ship "Strathallan" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 8th January 1858 7
Mrs. Mary Riddle, Scottish settler from Glasgow travelling from Leith aboard the ship "Strathallan" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 8th January 1858 7
Miss Ann Riddle, Scottish settler from Glasgow travelling from Leith aboard the ship "Strathallan" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 8th January 1858 7
Mr. George Riddle, Scottish settler travelling from Leith aboard the ship "Strathallan" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 8th January 1858 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Riddle (post 1700) +

Nelson Riddle (1921-1985), American band leader and arranger, best known for his work for Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole and many more
Robert M. Riddle (1812-1858), American politician, Mayor of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1853 to 1854
Oscar Riddle (1877-1968), American biologist
Haywood Yancey Riddle (1834-1879), American politician and University professor, member of the United States House of Representatives from Tennessee
George Read Riddle (1817-1867), American engineer lawyer and politician, U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from Delaware
Theodate Pope Riddle (1867-1946), American architect
Johnny Riddle (1905-1998), American baseball player
Jeff C. Riddle (1863-1941), American Indian historian of the Modoc War
Almeda Riddle (1898-1986), American folk singer
Robert H. Riddle, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 11 aerial victories
... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Riddle family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Albert Riddle, British Boy, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 8

HMS Repulse

Mr. Howard George Aubrey Riddle, British Blacksmith 3rd Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 9

Citations +

"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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/forfarshire
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 24) Agincourt voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1844 with 226 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/agincourt/1844
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/equestrian
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html