Surname Shortridge - Meaning and Origin
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Shortridge: What does the surname Shortridge mean?
The last name Shortridge is of English origin and is believed to be derived from the Old English term "sciran ridge," which meant "a bright ridge/ridge of shingle." It is a topographic name for someone who lived near a long, narrow ridge, likely a coastal formation. The family began to migrate to other areas of the world, especially to the United States, during the Middle Ages.
Shortridges generally lived in rural areas and worked in the agricultural industry for centuries. Many of them also served in the British Navy at one time or another. In America, many Shortridges served in the Revolutionary War and also fought in other wars.
The Shortridge name can be found in a variety of contexts, ranging from military service to entrepreneurial ambition. Many people with this name have achieved success in business and public service, as well as in the arts and entertainment industry.
Shortridges tend to value hard work and dedication in achieving their goals. They are driven by a desire to make a lasting impact in the lives of others and make a positive contribution to their communities. They also tend to be determined, independent individuals with a strong sense of identity and pride.
Order DNA origin analysisShortridge: Where does the name Shortridge come from?
The last name Shortridge is most commonly found today in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. In the US, it is most prevalent in the Midwest region, particularly in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. In the UK, it is most common in Northern Ireland, Yorkshire, Cheshire, and Lancashire. In Canada, the name is found mostly in British Columbia, Ontario, and Alberta.
Shortridge is thought to be an English surname, first found in the county of Cheshire, where it is thought to have originated as a local name from a place called "Shortridge," which was believed to hail from the Old English whatever-ecg, a compound of two elements meaning "short" and "lithe."
The Shortridge name has expanded throughout the world with various branches of the family moving to America and Canada in either the colonial period or the 19th century. In general, the Shortridge family is well represented in a variety of fields, ranging from politics, the military, literature, business, and the entertainment industry.
It is estimated that there are currently between 5000 and 7000 people in the Western world today who share the Shortridge name, representing many different branches of a very old family.
Variations of the surname Shortridge
Shortridge is an English surname that derives from the place-name Shortridge or Sherridge in the County of Kent. The earliest record of the name is found in the Calendar of Inquisitions for 1295, where the surname was spelt Schesewrig. The spellings of the Shortridge surname may vary over time and between regions. Variations on the spelling of this surname can include Shortredge, Schetteridge, Shorteridge, Shorterich, Shurtridge, and Schortridge.
The Shortridge surname was brought to America by English and Irish settlers, who adopted the English spellings upon their arrival. Variations from these spellings often surface on U.S. documents, such as Shurtredge, Shorterich, Chorteridge, and Schorteridge.
In some cases, the Shortridge surname might have been altered due to mispronunciation or misunderstanding of the name by local officials. This could explain why longer versions of the name, such as Shorteridge, exist.
Some variants of the Shortridge surname may have also changed due to poorly-defined boundaries and legal jurisdictions in rural areas, where the spellings on documents may have been adapted to how a local registrar believed the surname should be spelled.
Other variants, such as Shurtredge, may also have emerged due to incorrect translations or misinterpretation of documents in regions colonised by English or Irish settlers.
Shortridge may also be considered as a variant of the Irish surname Sherry, when it appears in American records. The Irish spelling was often altered in a similar fashion to the English equivalents when Irish immigrants arrived in the USA.
Despite the various spellings of the Shortridge surname, they all have the same origin and may even refer to the same family.
Famous people with the name Shortridge
- James Shortridge Jr, drummer from Chicago punk scene
- Robert Shortridge, United States Senator from 1933 to 1939
- Fred Shortridge, Major League Baseball shortstop from 1884 to 1889
- Margaret Shortridge, Australian composer and professor
- Barb Shortridge, Canadian cross-country skier
- Charles E. Shortridge, United States Army general from 1970–1975
- Robert Shortridge, Episcopal Bishop of Arkansas from 1887–1920
- Devon Shortridge, American basketball coach
- Jean Shortridge, Canadian writer and poet
- Robert Shortridge, American actor and screenwriter
- Mark Shortridge, British television director
- Howard Shortridge, American author and illustrator
- Maurice Shortridge, Welsh professional footballer
- Don Shortridge, former American football coach
- Peter Shortridge, professional athletes who competes in track and field