The Ridge surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 7,133 people carried this name — #4,936 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 41,300 people counted. That is up 3% from 6,942 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Ridge surname

A toponymic surname from Middle English, named after the natural feature.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Ridge» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

An early record he cites: Thomas de la Rigge, Hampshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Ridge and Rigg.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 646 · public domain.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 10 births for the Ridge name in 1890.

Most were registered in Connacht. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 400 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “9 in Galway.”

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born, 1890

Connacht 9
Ulster 1

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

19 families named Ridge, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 118 people lived in those households, 6.2 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 2 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Pennsylvania 12
Maryland 4
North Carolina 3

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 259 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Ridge in American newspapers,
1907–1914.

Newspaper page from The Birmingham Age-herald carrying the name Ridge
The Birmingham Age-herald 1912-12-01
Newspaper page from Northern Wyoming Herald And Garland Irrigation Era carrying the name Ridge
Northern Wyoming Herald And Garland Irrigation Era 1914-10-23
Newspaper page from The Semi-weekly Messenger carrying the name Ridge
The Semi-weekly Messenger 1907-03-19

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 3,866 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Ridge in Australian newspapers,
1810s–1990s.

26,397 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Ridge. The most, 3,701, date from the 1930s.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 9,386
Victoria 5,384
South Australia 3,897
Queensland 3,679
Western Australia 1,959
Tasmania 1,859
ACT (Canberra) 142
Northern Territory 32

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Ridge.

Who carried it

People named Ridge,
with a public archive behind them.

  • George Ridge d. 1824
  • Joseph Ridge d. 1875
  • Elizabeth Ridge d. 1730
  • Mary Elizabeth Ridge d. 1903
  • Sir John Ridge 1566–
  • Thomas Ridge 1675–1730 · politician

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Ridge,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States647 records

647 records of the Ridge name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 247
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 97
  • Other U.S. records 303
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Luther E. Ridge

    Born 1912 in Tennessee. Enlisted 1943 at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia; metal worker. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 2000, buried at Four Mile Baptist Church Cemetery, Maryville, Tennessee.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Julia Ridge

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Britannic from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 24; servant. From Queenstown, Ireland; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record William Francis Ridge

    Born 1949; from Gloucester, New Jersey. U.S. Army, infantryman; killed in action 1969 in Binh Duong, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 647 records for Ridge in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia473 records

473 records of the Ridge name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 237
  • Tasmanian Names Index 117
  • Other Australian records 119
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record William Ridge

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Stakesby, sailing from Portsmouth in 1833. Native of Middlesex. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1839. Married 1839 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 24.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Ernest William Ridge

    Died 1887 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 27. Will registered in Tasmania in 1887.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Eva Blanche Ridge

    Born 1872 in Emu Bay, Tasmania. Married 1894 in Emu Bay, Tasmania, aged 22.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 473 records for Ridge in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Canada28 records

28 records of the Ridge name in Canada
  • City of Winnipeg cemetery records 11
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 4
  • Other Canadian records 13
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Chas Ridge

    Came to Ontario in 1870 aboard the L Superior, landing at Quebec, bound for Hamilton, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Gordon Cameron Ridge

    Buried in 1978 at Union Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 67.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Albert Harry Ridge

    Died 1957 in Berwick, Kings, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 28 records for Ridge in Canada.

Counts: City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom21 records

21 records of the Ridge name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 16
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 3
  • Scottish rolls of honour, First World War 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Lydia Ridge

    Buried in 1823 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 47.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record C. Ridge

    Sapper, Royal Engineers. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record S. Ridge

    Durham Light Infantry. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 21 records for Ridge in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Ireland3 records

3 records of the Ridge name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Annie Ridge

    Died 1939; buried at Lettermore Leitir Móir, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Bab Ridge

    Died 1933; buried at Lettermore Leitir Móir, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 3 records for Ridge in Ireland.

Counts: Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

New Zealand2 records

2 records of the Ridge name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 1
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Ronald Reginald Ridge

    Died 1968, aged 65; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Florence S. Ridge

    Died 1989, aged 69; buried at Whangamata Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands2 records

2 records of the Ridge name in the Netherlands Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths)
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Robert Thomas Ridge

    Married in 1946 in Wageningen.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 1 of 2 records for Ridge in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Ridge.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Ridge is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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