Ribald History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Ribald family

The surname Ribald was first found in Norfolk where Ralph filius Ribaldi was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1159. A few years later, Folco Ribald was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Lincolnshire in 1165 and later again, William Ribald was found in the Feet of Fines for Norfolk in 1198. Ribbel was listed in the Domesday Book Ribel (in Ribel-castre, Ribchester) 1

In the next century, Richard Ribald was found in Somerset in 1230 and in the following century, John Ribald was registered in the Assize Rolls for Lincolnshire in 1373. 2

One source notes that name could literally mean "dweller by the River Ribble. We do not know what the Celtic name of the Ribble was. The earliest recorded uncompounded form of the name is the Domesday Ripa ('Inter Ripam et Mersham') which is apparently intended for the Latin ripa, a river-bank. 'Ribble' may, in fact, represent Latin rivell-us, a diminutive f: riv-us, a stream, brook" 3

Again in Norfolk, other early entries include: Ribald de Middleham, Norfolk, temp. 1200 in the Feet of Fines and Ribaldus (without surname), Norfolk in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. 4

Early History of the Ribald family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ribald research. Another 118 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1200 and 1273 are included under the topic Early Ribald History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ribald Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Ribald, Ribble, Ribell, Ribbell, Ribesford, Ribbesford, Ribblesford, Ribbald, Ribbold, Rybald and many more.

Early Notables of the Ribald family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

the Ribald family of Yorkshire and Norfolk

Migration of the Ribald family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print