Show ContentsDridend History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The current generations of the Dridend family have inherited a surname that was first used hundreds of years ago by descendants of the ancient Scottish tribe called the Picts. The Dridend family lived in the lands of Dryden, near Roslin in Forfar where the name is pronounced Drayden.

Early Origins of the Dridend family

The surname Dridend was first found in Forfarshire part of the Tayside region of North Eastern Scotland, and present day Council Area of Angus. The first record of the name was "Philip de Dryden who was listed on a writ issued to the sheriff of Forfar in 1296. In 1329 payment was made to Henricus de Driden for behalf of the soul of King Robert and in compensation for loss of multure. Thomas de Driden is mentioned in 1455 as "supprior claustralis monasterii de Abirbrothoc', and in 1481 Laurence Dridane held a tenement in Stirling. The name is local. There is Dryden near Roslin, locally pronounced Drayden." 1

Some of the family ventures down into England in early times. "Blakesley Hall [in Blakesley, Northamptonshire] was anciently a religious house, occupied by a fraternity of the order of St. John of Jerusalem; and among a number of productive farms, is one of 200 acres, once the property of the Dryden family." 2

Early History of the Dridend family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dridend research. Another 167 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1306, 1329, 1455, 1481, 1521, 1631, 1668 and 1700 are included under the topic Early Dridend History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dridend Spelling Variations

Scribes in the Middle Ages did not have access to a set of spelling rules. They spelled according to sound, the result was a great number of spelling variations. In various documents, Dridend has been spelled Dryden, Driden, Dridane, Driedan, Drydan, Drydon, Drydun, Dridan, Driden, Dridun and many more.

Early Notables of the Dridend family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was John Dryden (1631-1700), an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright from Thrapston, Northamptonshire, who was made Poet Laureate in 1668; Walter Scott called him "Glorious John." He made many radical shifts in his religion and politics, he...
Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dridend Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Dridend family

The cruelties suffered under the new government forced many to leave their ancient homeland for the freedom of the North American colonies. Those who arrived safely found land, freedom, and opportunity for the taking. These hardy settlers gave their strength and perseverance to the young nations that would become the United States and Canada. Immigration and passenger lists have shown many early immigrants bearing the name Dridend: Adam Dryden, who began his life in the south in Georgia in the mid 1700's; Mary Driden landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1806; William Dryden settled in New York State in 1855. Later members of the family landed in the northeast states..



  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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