Surname Ridgway - Meaning and Origin

Ridgway: What does the surname Ridgway mean?

The last name Ridgway is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the Old English ‘ridge’ and the Old English ‘weg’, meaning a pathway or roadway. The name first appeared in records from the 11th century and was likely given to people who lived near a ridge or a roadway. Over the centuries, the Ridgway family has become widespread and there are now numerous offshoots of the original name found in countries around the world.

The Ridgway surname is commonly found in England, Scotland, and Canada. The name was borne by several individuals who were prominent in their communities, including William Ridgway who was Mayor of Harrogate in 1567, and Edward Ridgway who was a prominent lawyer in 18th century England.

Throughout history, Ridgway’s were generally associated with farming, either owning or working with livestock. However, this is not always the case. There have been instances of Ridgway’s being clergymen, shopkeepers, binary traders, or even Heads of State.

In essence, the last name Ridgway is a reminder of the skill and ambition of those who adopted it. It is a libretto of hard work, resilience, and success in the face of adversity. It is a story of people who left their mark on the world and a testament to the strength of human life.

Ridgway: Where does the name Ridgway come from?

The surname Ridgway is most commonly associated with the United Kingdom, particularly in the North West and Pennine regions of England. The name is believed to be of Anglo-Saxon origin, and records suggest that it dates back to at least 1200. Today, the name is most prevalent in Lancashire, Cumbria, and Yorkshire.

Ridgway families have also been found in other parts of the world, including America, Canada, and Australia. In America, the Ridgeways are most common in the southern states, particularly in Virginia, Tennessee, Florida, and Alabama. In Canada, Ridgway families have roots in Ontario, while in Australia many Ridgways are found in New South Wales.

Ridgway families have a rich and varied history. According to one source, the name originated in a small village in Lancashire. In the 16th century, families bearing the name began to settle in other areas, primarily in the north and west parts of England, and by the 19th century, the name was widespread throughout England and beyond.

Ridgways have left their mark around the world, with a number of famous individuals bearing the name. The Scottish politician Colin Ridgway was Member of Parliament for Winsford in Cheshire, while the British actor Jonathan Ridgway has appeared in a variety of television shows and films. There is also the American country singer Joe Ridgway and the Australian athlete Chris Ridgway, among others.

Overall, the Ridgway surname has a long and interesting history, and is still fairly common today, particularly in the north and west of England and in certain parts of America, Canada, and Australia.

Variations of the surname Ridgway

Ridgway is an English surname with multiple variants. The root of the name is a combination of Riley or Ryley, an Old English given name, and gweþa, an Old English word meaning road or path.

Variants of the surname include Ridgeway, Ridgely, Ridgeley, Ridgely, and Rigeway. Spelling variations chiefly include replacing the letter "e" with the letter "y", and replacing letter "i" with "y". Examples of these variants are Rigway, Rygwaye, and Rigweye.

The surname Ridgeway is a contraction of Ridge Way, a place name in Dorset, England. This branch of the family would distinguish themselves from the branches associated with the original place name by spelling variants as Ridgeway, Rigwey, and Rigweigh.

The surname has also spread to other countries with immigrants, particularly to the United States, where it has become popular in many surnames. In the US, variants include Ridgeway, Ridgeley, Ridge, and Rigeway.

Other variants of the surname include Ridgewood, Ridgwell, Ridgewall, and Rhigg.

Generally speaking, the spelling and variants the surname of Ridgway indicate a family history that likely stretches back hundreds of years.

Famous people with the name Ridgway

• General Matthew B. Ridgway: Matthew Bunker Ridgway was an American Army officer and a prominent military leader. He served as the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe from 1952 to 1953 and later served as the Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1953 to 1955.
• Charles H. Ridgway: Charles Hamilton Ridgway acted as a U.S. Navy captain and a commander of the SubPac Pearl Harbor during World War II. He wrote several memoirs detailing his experiences in the Navy and on board a number of different ships.
• Georgia Ridgway: Georgia Ridgway was a British billionaire heiress and a member of the British House of Lords. She inherited the fortune of her father, the late freight magnate Charles Ridgway, and had a seat in the House of Lords until 2001.
• Harry Ridgway: Harry Ridgway was a British businessman and tobacco magnate. He was the head of the firm of G & B Ridgway, and was widely recognized as a significant figure in the British tobacco industry.
• Bob Ridgway: Bob Ridgway was an American professional golfer. He was an emerging amateur in the 1950s, but achieved international success in professional golf in the 1960s. He won sixteen professional championships, including five PGA Tour titles.
• Edith Ridgway: Edith Ridgway was an influential British suffragette. She was a prominent speaker, organizer, and campaigner for women's rights in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and was part of the Women's Social and Political Union.
• John Ridgway: John Ridgway was an English explorer and navigator. He is best known for leading the first British expedition to circumnavigate Antarctica, which became known as the Voyage of the James Caird.
• John E. Ridgway: John E. Ridgway is an American plant pathologist and virologist. He is an emeritus professor of plant pathology at the University of California, Davis and he has also served on a number of scientific boards and advisory committees.

Other surnames

Ridgwaie