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![Show Contents]() Ridehowe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
Ridehowe is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Ridehowe family lived in Somerset and Yorkshire. There are many thoughts about the origin of the name. Generally, the most logical explanation is that the name was derived from the term redoubt which was a military fortification. 1 Early Origins of the Ridehowe familyThe surname Ridehowe was first found in Somerset, where the first on record was Elyas Rydhut listed in that county in the Hundredorum Rolls in 1274. 2 John Ridut was listed in the Assize Rolls of Somerset in 1276 and 1278. 3 There was a Ridout family established early in Edgbaston near Birmingham, and another in Yorkshire, where they intermarried with the distinguished Yorkshire family of Strangeways. A William Rydhowt was on record in the Poll Tax of Yorkshire in 1379. 2 Early History of the Ridehowe familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ridehowe research. Another 39 words (3 lines of text) covering the year 1696 is included under the topic Early Ridehowe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Ridehowe Spelling VariationsEndless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Ridout, Rideout and others. Early Notables of the Ridehowe familyMore information is included under the topic Early Ridehowe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Ridehowe familyTo escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Ridehowe or a variant listed above: James Rideout, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1676; Thomas Ridout who settled in New England in 1757; John Ridout, a bonded passenger, who came to America in 1767.
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Toutz foitz chevalier
Motto Translation: Always a knight.
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- 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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