Ryden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Of all the Anglo-Saxon names to come from Britain, Ryden is one of the most ancient. The name is a result of the original family having lived in Roydon, places found in Essex and Norfolk. The place-name Roydon is derived from the Old English elements rygen, which means rye, and dun, which means hill. The place-name as a whole translates as "hill where rye is grown." Roydon in Essex was recorded in the Domesday Book as Ruindune; Roydon in Norfolk was recorded in that document as Regadona. The Domesday Book was a survey of England ordered by King WIlliam the Conqueror, the first Norman King of England, in 1086. It was used to reassess the Danegeld (the tax system in place at the time) and as a reference for the settlement of property disputes.

Early Origins of the Ryden family

The surname Ryden was first found in Suffolk but other branches of the family were located elsewhere. By example, Rowton is a small village located seven miles north of Wellington, Shropshire. It dates back to at least the Domesday Book where it was recorded as Rugheton. 1

The Battle of Rowton Heath was fought between the forces of the parliament and those of King Charles on 24 September 1645 during the English Civil War.

"On Rowton Heath was fought the important battle between the forces of the parliament and those of King Charles, which proved so fatal to the brave Earl of Lichfield, and so disastrous to his royal master; here, also, the Cheshire gentry assembled and declared for a free parliament, on the attempt of Sir George Booth to restore Charles II., in 1659." 2

Rowton Castle is a Grade II listed country house near Shrewsbury in Shropshire. The present castle was built in the 17th century, although a previous castle named Rowton Castle had stood on the site for several hundred years previously. As of 1986, it has been a luxury hotel.

Early History of the Ryden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ryden research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1580, 1583, 1610, 1614, 1622 and 1646 are included under the topic Early Ryden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ryden Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Ryden has been spelled many different ways, including Royden, Roydon, Rowton, Rowden and others.

Early Notables of the Ryden family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir Marmaduke Roydon (1583-1646), English merchant-adventurer, son of Ralph Roydon or Rawdon of Rawden Brandesby in Yorkshire. At sixteen years of age he went to London, where he was apprenticed to Daniel Hall, a Bordeaux merchant, who sent him as his factor to France. He returned to London about 1610 and was elected a common councilman. Soon afterwards he was presented with the freedom of the Clothworkers' Company, and made captain of the city...
Another 81 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ryden Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ryden migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Rydens to arrive in North America:

Ryden Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Ida C. Ryden, aged 7, Swedish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "City of Baltimore" in 1774 3
Carolina Ryden, aged 34, Swedish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "City of Baltimore" in 1774 3
Carl Ryden, aged 1, Swedish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "City of Baltimore" in 1774 3

Ryden Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mary Ryden, aged 36, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Northumberland" in 1849 3
Mary Ryden, aged 28, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Northumberland" in 1851 3
Henry Ryden, aged 25, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Northumberland" in 1851 3
William Ryden, aged 30, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Northumberland" in 1851 3
Mary Ryden, aged 20, Irish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Irvine" in 1851 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ryden migration to Australia +

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

Ryden Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century

Mr. Ton Stanley Ryden, settler who arrived in Melbourne, Australia aboard the ship "Borda" in 1923 4
Mr. R. Ryden, settler who arrived in Melbourne, Australia aboard the ship "Beltana" in 1925 4
Miss B. Ryden, settler who arrived in Sydney, Australia aboard the ship "Orcades" in 1951 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Ryden (post 1700) +

Susan "Su" Ryden, American politician, Member of the Colorado House of Representatives (2009-2017)
Kent Ryden, American Professor of American and New England Studies
Kalen Ryden (b. 1991), American soccer playerwho currently plays for New Mexico United in the USL Championship
Hope Ryden (1929-2017), American photographer, filmmaker and wildlife activist
Mark Ryden (b. 1963), American painter who is part of the Lowbrow (or pop surrealist) art movement, dubbed "the god-father of pop surrealism"
E. C. Ryden, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Gold Democrat National Convention from Illinois, 1896 5
Vassula Rydén (b. 1942), Egyptian-Swiss Christian mystic and author
Susanne Rydén (b. 1962), Swedish soprano
Hugh Ryden (b. 1943), Scottish football player who played as an inside forward
Folke Rydén (b. 1958), Swedish journalist and filmmaker
... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
National Archives of Australia retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ListingReports/PassengerListing.aspx
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html