Show ContentsRibble History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Ribble family

The surname Ribble 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 Ribble family

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

Ribble 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 Ribble family

More information is included under the topic Early Ribble Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Ribble migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ribble Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Maria Barbara Ribble, aged 1, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1733 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Ribble (post 1700) +

  • Melvin H. Ribble (1870-1964), American cornetist, baritone hornist and composer
  • Reid James Ribble (b. 1956), American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin (2011-)
  • Loran Thomas Ribble (b. 1907), American NFL football player who played from 1932 to 1936
  • Andrew Ribble, American politician, Member of New Jersey State House of Assembly from Warren County, 1849-51 6
  • Patrick Wayne "Pat" Ribble (b. 1954), retired Canadian NHL ice hockey player


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  4. Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
  5. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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