Show ContentsRisden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Risden family

The surname Risden was first found in Kent where the first on record was Simon de Risedene who was listed there in the Pipe Rolls of 1198. The name is generally thought to have originated in Riseden in Goudhurst or at Risden in Hawkhurst. [1]

From this early listing, we must move to Bableigh, Parkham in North Devon. For it here that "Risdon was the name of an old gentle family of in the 16th and 17th centuries." [2]

"Of the Risdons of Bableigh, in Parkham parish, I can glean but few particulars. The Rev. Edward Risdon was very instrumental in the foundation of Douay College in 1568." [3]

Early History of the Risden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Risden research. Another 142 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1080, 1091, 1163, 1230, 1399, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1567, 1580, 1600, 1622 and 1640 are included under the topic Early Risden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Risden Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Risdon, Risden, Risdene, Risdone, Rissden, Rissdon, Rissdene, Resdon, Resden, Riseden, Risedon, Rysdon, Rysden, Ryseden and many more.

Early Notables of the Risden family

Distinguished members of the family include Tristram Risdon (c. 1580-1640), an English antiquarian and topographer, author of "Survey of the County of Devon." He was born at Winscot St. Giles, near Torrington, Devon, and was the eldest...
Another 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Risden Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Risden migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Risden Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Phillip Risden, who arrived in Virginia in 1653 [4]
  • James Risden, who arrived in Virginia in 1655 [4]
  • Jane Risden, who landed in Virginia in 1655 [4]
  • Landma Risden, who arrived in Virginia in 1655 [4]
  • Mary Risden, who landed in Virginia in 1655 [4]
Risden Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Ole Risden, aged 50, Swedish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Denmark" in 1868 [5]
  • Fred Risden, aged 6, Irish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Atlantic" in 1872 [5]
  • Wm Risden, aged 8, Irish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Atlantic" in 1872 [5]
  • Susan Risden, aged 29, Irish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Atlantic" in 1872 [5]
  • John Risden, aged 7, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "City of Richmond" in 1876 [5]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Risden Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Hugh C. Risden, aged 41, settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Orotava" in 1910 [5]
  • Fannie Risden, aged 31, settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Orotava" in 1910 [5]
  • Joseph Risden, aged 25, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Franconia" in 1912 [5]
  • J. Jenkins Risden, aged 61, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Vauban" in 1919 [5]
  • Charles Risden, aged 32, settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Metapan" in 1922 [5]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Risden migration to Australia +

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

Risden Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century
  • Miss Risden, British settler who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Omrah" in 1908 [6]
  • M. Agnes Risden, settler who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Omrah" in 1908 [6]
  • Mr. L. Risden, Welsh settler who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Charon" in 1940 [6]

Contemporary Notables of the name Risden (post 1700) +

  • E. L. Risden PhD (b. 1957), English Professor of English at St. Norbert College, a specialist in J. R. R. Tolkien
  • Risden M. McDaniel, American politician, Member of North Carolina State Senate from Jones County, 1824-31 [7]


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  3. Oliver, George, Collections Illustrating the History of the Catholic Religion in the Counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wilts, and Gloucester London: Charles Dolman, 61, New Bond Street, 1857. Print
  4. 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)
  5. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  6. National Archives of Australia retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ListingReports/PassengerListing.aspx
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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