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Ridgley History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Ridgley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Ridgley surname is thought to be a habitational name, derived perhaps from the place name Rugeley, in Staffordshire.

Early Origins of the Ridgley family

The surname Ridgley was first found in Staffordshire where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Ridgley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ridgley research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1614, 1667 and 1734 are included under the topic Early Ridgley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ridgley Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Ridgeley, Ridgley, Ridgly and others.

Early Notables of the Ridgley family

Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ridgley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ridgley Ranking

In the United States, the name Ridgley is the 12,532^nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Migration of the Ridgley family to Ireland

Some of the Ridgley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ridgley migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ridgley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Ridgley, who settled in Virginia in 1635
John Ridgley, who arrived in Maryland in 1680 2

Ridgley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas Ridgley, who settled in New Orleans in 1823
John Ridgley, who arrived in New York in 1823

Ridgley migration to Australia +

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

Ridgley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Joseph Ridgley, aged 26, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Joseph Rowan" 3

Ridgley 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:

Ridgley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Joseph Ridgley, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alfred" in 1864 4
Sarah Ridgley, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alfred" in 1864 4
Emily Ridgley, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alfred" in 1864 4
Joseph Ridgley, aged 27, a ploughman, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alfred" in 1864 4
Sarah Ridgley, aged 26, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alfred" in 1864 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Ridgley (post 1700) +

Tommy Ridgley (1925-1999), American R&B singer and bandleader
Bob Ridgley, Canadian politician, Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for St. John's North (2003-2011)

Historic Events for the Ridgley family +

Halifax Explosion

Mrs. Matilda Ridgley (1888-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who survived the Halifax Explosion (1917) but later died due to injuries 5

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)
South Australian Register Saturday 17th June 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Joseph Rowan 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/josephrowan1854.shtml
Archives New Zealand Micro 5019. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Alfred. Retrieved from http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ourstuff/Alfred1864.htm
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance