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Ridley History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Ridley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The origins of the Ridley name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in the region of Ridley in the counties of Northumberland, Cheshire and Kent. Ridley is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Ridley family

The surname Ridley was first found in Northumberland where one of the first records of the name was Nicolas de Ridley who executed a charter in 1250. Later, Nicolas de Redley or Ridley lived in 1306 at Ridley in this county. Another early record reveals Odard Ridley as Coroner of Tyndale in 1278. His grandfather was probably brother of John Fitz-Odard, Baron of Emildon (living 1161-1182) and son of Odard, Viscount of Northumberland.

The township of Melkridge was an early home to the family. "It belonged at an early period to the Ridleys, of whom Sir Nicholas Ridley was proprietor in the 16th century; the chief estate afterwards came to the Nevilles, of Chevet, and from them passed to the Blacketts, the present owners. " 1

Wall-Town again in Northumberland was home to another branch of the family since early times. "In Henry VIII.'s time Wall-Town was the property of the Ridleys, who continued here till the reign of Charles I., if not later. The tower of Wall-Town, which was a castellated building, is described, in 1542, as the inheritance of John Ridley." 1

Early History of the Ridley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ridley research. Another 168 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1500, 1547, 1550, 1555, 1560, 1576, 1624, 1629, 1653, 1691, 1692 and 1708 are included under the topic Early Ridley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ridley Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Ridley were recorded, including Ridley, Ridly and others.

Early Notables of the Ridley family

Distinguished members of the family include

Lancelot Ridley (died 1576), an English divine, said to have been the son of John Ridley of Willimoteswick in Northumberland; and his second son, Dr. Mark Ridley (1560-c.1624), an English physician bo...
Sir Thomas Ridley (c. 1550-1629) was Chancellor of Winchester, born at Ely, the second son of Thomas Ridley, gent., of Bewling, Shropshire
Humphrey Ridley (1653-1708), was an English physician, son of Thomas Ridley of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. He settled in London, became a candidate or member of the College of Physicians on 30 Sept. 1...

Ridley World Ranking

In the United States, the name Ridley is the 2,349^th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 2 However, in Australia, the name Ridley is ranked the 975^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,064 people with that name. 3 And in the United Kingdom, the name Ridley is the 791^st popular surname with an estimated 8,547 people with that name. 4

Ridley migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Ridley family emigrate to North America:

Ridley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Richard Ridley, who settled in Boston in 1635 along with Anne
Rich Ridley, aged 16, who arrived in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Planter" 5
Ann Ridley, who arrived in Virginia in 1638 5

Ridley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Nathl Ridley, who landed in Virginia in 1702 5
Thomas Ridley, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 5
John Ridley, who arrived in Virginia in 1716 5
John Ridley, who settled in South Carolina in 1716
Alexander Ridley, who landed in Virginia in 1716 5

Ridley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Ridley, who landed in New York in 1846 5
Robert Ridley, who landed in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in 1863 5
James Ridley, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1870 5

Ridley migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ridley Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

C Ridley, who landed in Victoria, British Columbia in 1862

Ridley migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Ridley Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. James Ridley, (Luke), (b. 1762), aged 35, English convict who was convicted in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1855 6

Ridley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Ridley, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Agamemnon" on April 22, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia 7
Mr. William Ridley who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 24th March 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
Mr. David Ridley who was convicted in Cumbria (Cumberland), England for life, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 3rd October 1831, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
Miss Jane Ridley, English convict who was convicted in Northumberland, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Buffalo" on 4th May 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. Samuel Ridley, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bangalore" on 28th March 1848, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) from Bermuda 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ridley migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Ridley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

R. Ridley, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Simlah" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand in 1851 12
Frederick Ridley, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Anne Longton" in 1860 13
George Ridley, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Owen Glendowner" in 1864
Mr. Lawson Ridley, (b. 1837), aged 27, English farm labourer from Cumberland travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "William Miles" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 22nd October 1864 12
Rose Ann Ridley, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Andrew Jackson" in 1865
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ridley migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 14

Ridley Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. Robert Ridley, (b. 1605), aged 30, British settler travelling aboard the ship "The Dorset" arriving in Barbados in September 1635 15
Miss Elizabeth Ridley, (b. 1605), aged 30, British settler travelling aboard the ship "The Dorset" arriving in Barbados in September 1635 15

Contemporary Notables of the name Ridley (post 1700) +

Gary Ridley PE (1945-2022), American engineer and politician, Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation (2009-2017), Director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (2001-2013), Director of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (2009-2013)
Major-General Clarence Self Ridley (1883-1969), American Chief of US Military Mission to the Iranian Army (1942-1946) 16
Clay Ridley, American founder of Ridley Motorcycle Company, a privately held motorcycle manufacturing company in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA, active from 1995 to 2010
Jack Ridley (1915-1957), American USAF test pilot
Thomas E. Ridley, American politician, Member of California State Assembly 10th District, 1852-53 17
Robert L. Ridley, American Republican politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives 2nd District, 2000 17
John S. Ridley, American politician, Mayor of Smyrna, Tennessee, 1956 17
John Pattillo Ridley (b. 1955), American Democratic Party politician, Special Assistant, U.S. Congress, 1974-78; Vice-chair, DeKalb County Democratic Party, 1980-84; City Commissioner, Decatur, Georgia, 1998-2002 17
John C. Ridley, American politician, Member of North Carolina House of Commons from Granville County, 1832 17
F. M. Ridley, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Georgia, 1912 17
... (Another 31 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Ridley family +

USS Arizona

Mr. William H. Ridley, American Radioman Third Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 18

The Ridley Motto +

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: Constans fidei
Motto Translation: Constant to honor.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Agamemnon voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1820 with 179 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/agamemnon/1820
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bussorah-merchant
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/buffalo
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bangalore
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 29th September 2021. Retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2014, March 26) Clarence Ridley. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Ridley/Clarence_Self/USA.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 24) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html