Show ContentsDotridge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient roots of the Dotridge family name are in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The name Dotridge comes from when the family lived close to a region called Dodda's ridge. The name is derived from the local of Dodridge, likely in Devon or the southwest country. 1

Early Origins of the Dotridge family

The surname Dotridge was first found in Devon where the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Richard de Doderig as holding lands there at that time. 2 Later Richard Doderugge was listed in Devon in 1353. 3

Early History of the Dotridge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dotridge research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1218, 1555, 1610, 1621, 1625, 1628, 1646, 1650, 1656 and 1666 are included under the topic Early Dotridge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dotridge Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Dotridge has appeared include Dodderidge, Doderidge, Dodderige, Doderige, Dotteridge and many more.

Early Notables of the Dotridge family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir John Doddridge (1555-1628), an English lawyer, justice of the king's bench, Member of Parliament. He was son of Richard Doddridge, merchant, of Barnstaple. 4Pentecost Dodderidge (died 1650), was an English...
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dotridge Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Dotridge family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Dotridge arrived in North America very early: Davie Dodderidge who settled in Barbados in 1635; along with Jarvis and Thomas; George Dodderidge settled in Virginia in 1670 along with John; Thomas Dodderidge settled in Virginia in 1635..



  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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