Surname Riddel - Meaning and Origin
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Riddel: What does the surname Riddel mean?
The surname Riddel is of Old English origin, derived from the Old English word "Rydell," which itself comes from "Rydd" meaning "cleared" and "Dell" meaning "valley". Thus, the original bearers of the name were likely located near a cleared valley. As with many other surnames, geographical features often determined a family's surname in the early medieval period when the system of surnaming began. The surname first appears in records in the 12th century and has different spellings including Riddell, Riddle, and Ridell. The first recorded spelling of the Riddel family name is shown to be that of Walter Ryedale which was dated around 1140, in "Records of the Abbey of Kelso", during the reign of King David I of Scotland. Tradition suggests that the first person with the surname Riddel was a Norman knight who received land grants in the borderlands along the Scotland-England border. Despite its origins in Britain, today the surname can be found in different parts of the world due to colonization and immigration.
Order DNA origin analysisRiddel: Where does the name Riddel come from?
The last name Riddel is most commonly found in countries across the British Isles, such as England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. It is also fairly prevalent in the United States, where records of the surname first appeared around the mid-1800s.
Within England, the surname most prominently can be found in northern regions such as Lancashire, Yorkshire, Durham, and Durhamshire. Scotland has also seen a significant presence of Riddels within Dumfries & Galloway and Lanarkshire. The name has also spread to other European countries, most significantly in France.
Surname maps provided by the Guild of One-Name Studies show the name Riddel is more widely spread in Scotland than it is England and Wales. In the USA, it has seen a notable presence in more southern states such as Texas and Oklahoma.
With increasing migration and population sizes, Riddel has extended its reach and can now be encountered in locations all over the wide. It is an everchanging landscape and chances are one can find several families of Riddel around the world.
Variations of the surname Riddel
The surname Riddel has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common spelling of the surname is Riddell. This spelling is found in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Canada, and the United States. It is derived from the Middle English elements "rith," which means a stream, and "dell," which means a small valley.
Variants of Riddell include Riddel, Riddle, Riddill, Reddell, Riddle, Riddle, and Riddick. Riddel is the most common variant of Riddell, while Reddell is the most common variant of Riddill. Riddle is the most common variant of Riddle, and Riddick is the most common variant of Riddick.
In Scotland, the surnames MacRaith and O'Rath are derivatives of Riddell. MacRaith is derived from the home of the MacRaith clan on a small island off the north coast of Scotland. The O'Rath surname is derived from the Irish language, meaning "Descendant of Rath".
In Germany and other parts of Europe, the surname Riddell is often spelled Ridder, which was originally a medieval knight or baron, or Reitdell, which means horse-valley.
In Poland and some parts of the United States, the surname Riddell is also spelled Ridel.
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Riddel provide a long list. This list demonstrates the extent to which a surname can spread, given its initial root and ancient beginnings.
Famous people with the name Riddel
- Jordan Riddell: Professional singer, songwriter and actor
- Jonathan Riddell: British software developer, open source software contributor
- Brooke Riddell: Canadian Olympic cross-country skier
- Christopher Riddell: British illustrator and author
- Jennifer Riddell: British actress
- Nathaniel Riddell: English cricketer
- Graham Riddell: Scottish footballer
- Brett Riddell: Scottish footballer
- Janet Riddell: Australian teacher and politician
- Sam Riddell: Australian track and field athlete