Show ContentsEtherege History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Etherege is from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of the Britain and comes from the name Aldrich. The surname Etherege originally derived from the Old English word aeoelric, which later became the name Aldrich. Literally the name means "noble ruler." 1

Early Origins of the Etherege family

The surname Etherege was first found in Berkshire, where this first of the family, Aethericus was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. 2 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Jacobus Atteriche as holding lands there at that time. 3

Early History of the Etherege family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Etherege research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1524, 1534, 1588, 1636, 1664, 1668, 1676, 1692, 1773 and 1786 are included under the topic Early Etherege History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Etherege 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. Etherege has been spelled many different ways, including Etheridge, Etheredge, Etherege, Etherige, Ettridge, Etridge, Attridge and many more.

Early Notables of the Etherege family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • Sir James Etheridge; George Etherege or Ethrygg (in Latin Edrycus) (fl. 1588), an English classical scholar and physician. He was born at Thame, Oxfordshire, was admitted a scholar of Corpus Christi C...
  • Sir George Etherege (c.1636-1692), born in Maidenhead, Berkshire, an English dramatist who wrote the plays "The Comical Revenge" or "Love in a Tub" (1664) "She Would if She Could" (1668) and "The Man...

Migration of the Etherege family

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 Ethereges to arrive in North America: Henry Etheridge who settled in Virginia in 1654; Sarah Etheridge who settled in New England in 1773; Thomas Etheridge settled in Maryland in 1722. From these settlers was descended the distinguished family of the U.S.A. as recorded in Burke's..


Contemporary Notables of the name Etherege (post 1700) +

  • Sir George Etherege (1635-1692), Restoration dramatist


  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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