Surname Ridger - Meaning and Origin

Ridger: What does the surname Ridger mean?

The last name Ridger is believed to be of French origin, derived from the French phrase rouger, meaning "to redden." It can be found as a surname in England and Scotland as well. It is thought to have been adopted in England and Scotland during the Norman conquest of the 11th century.

In a historical sense, it is possible that the name Ridger was given to a person who possessed a particularly ruddy complexion or had reddish-brown hair. It may also have been adopted by someone living in an area near or around a ridge; this is seen in many surnames where the addition of a non-English word like 'ridge' implies a geographical origin.

Today, the last name Ridger is relatively uncommon across the English-speaking world. It is more prominent in France, where it is the 428th most common surname, and in Scotland, where it was the 27,051st most common name in 2018.

The surname Ridger carries a distinguished and noble history, and classifies as a habitational surname. It has been used by generations of families, providing an interesting look into the family’s history and heritage.

Ridger: Where does the name Ridger come from?

The last name Ridger is commonly found in the United Kingdom. In the 1881 census records, Ridger was a common name in many provinces, such as Devon and Cornwall, Somerset, Cheshire, and Durham.

Today, Ridger is found mostly in England, with the largest concentration of the surname found in the counties of Greater London, Merseyside, and Lancashire. It is also still fairly common in South West Engand, with a high concentration of the name in Devon and Cornwall.

Ridger is a rarer last name elsewhere in the world. There are small clusters of the Ridger name in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Most of these individuals have ancestral ties to Britain and Ireland, and are descended from 19th century immigrants.

The Ridger name is likely of British origin, and is believed to have derived from the Old English word, 'ridge'. In the Middle Ages, people living near a ridge, or working as a ridge man, often adopted the name to identify their occupation.

Variations of the surname Ridger

Ridger is a surname that most likely originates from England. It seems to be more common in the South and/or Southwest of England. Variants of the surname include Ridgier, Ridge, Ridges, Rydges, Riggers and Rigges. It has also been spelled as "Ridger, Ridgier, Riggers, Ryggers, Ridges, Rydges, Rigges" and occasionally as "Ridgerr" and "Ridgarr".

In some cases, the variants of Ridger have also been used as first names, such as "Ridge", "Ridges" or "Ryggers". Variants of "Ridge" have also been used in other countries such as Scotland, Sweden, and Wales.

Similar surnames include Rigler and Ridgway, which both likely derive from an Old English name, "hrycg", meaning ridge, or a Middle English dialect word, "rige", for the same. Other similar surnames include Rigg, Riggall, and Ridgewell.

In recent years, some family trees have shown a connection between the variants of Ridger and the German surname, Riiger. In this case, Riiger may have derived from the Middle High German word, "rügen", meaning strong and/or powerful.

In summary, there are several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the Ridger surname. These include Ridger, Rigler, Ridgway, Rigg, Riggall, and Ridgewell. Additionally, Riiger may have derived from an Old German origin.

Famous people with the name Ridger

• Gemma Ridger: English broadcaster and writer on topics such as feminism and mental health.
• Sandy Ridger: Professional model, known for her photoshoots and her television appearances.
• Chris Ridger: Former English football goalkeeper who made almost 500 career appearances.
• Jordan Ridger: Professional tennis player who won the US Open in 2006.
• Bridget Ridger: Astronomer and astrophysicist who has written several books and papers on planetary science.
• John Ridger: British inventor and entrepreneur, known for creating tools that help people work faster and better.
• Michael Ridger: Actor and artist who shot to fame after appearing in the British film ‘Billy Elliot’.
• Sandy Ridger: Scientist and inventor who created several medical devices that are still used today.
• Samantha Ridger: Model and actress who is most famous for her roles in the American drama series ‘Leverage’ and ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’.
• Simon Ridger: Award-winning actor best known for his roles in films such as ‘Catch Me If You Can’ and ‘The Client’.

Other surnames

Ridgeway