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Riddleston Family History

Riddleston Surname Meaning

The name is a variant of Riddlesden with -don or -ton substituted for -den. An alternative variant in Suffolk is Riddlesdal(l)e (see Riddlesdell); for comparison, Elizabeth Riddlesdale is noted in 1596 in IGI (Stoke by Nayland, Suffolk) and John Riddlesdale of Polstead (Suffolk) appears in 1664 in TNA (Stoke by Nayland, Suffolk), along with bearers from 1757, 1778, and 1847 mentioned below.

This name may possibly derive from Riddistone in Winkleigh (Devon), which was recorded as Redelestun al. Ridelestun in 120. The place-name is comprised of an Old English personal name, either Rēðel or Hrēðel in the genitive case, combined with Old English tūn, meaning ‘farmstead’.

However, since no medieval evidence has been found for the surname in Devon and Cornwall, it remains a possibility that the name arrived there through early modern migration. This suggests it may be identical to the variant mentioned in the first instance.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


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Where is the Riddleston family from?

You can see how Riddleston families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Riddleston family name was found in the UK, and Scotland in 1891. The most Riddleston families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 37 Riddleston families living in Suffolk. This was about 77% of all the recorded Riddleston's in United Kingdom. Suffolk had the highest population of Riddleston families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Riddleston surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Riddleston ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Horseman On Farm and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Riddleston. 34% of Riddleston men worked as a Horseman On Farm and 81% of Riddleston women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Riddleston were Agricultural Farmer and General Domestic Service.

View Census Data for Riddleston | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

England shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Horseman On Farm
    34%
  • Hosiery Manufacturer
    17%
  • Agricultural Labourer
    17%
  • Agricultural Farmer
    17%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    81%
  • Housewife
    10%
  • General Domestic Service
    10%

What Riddleston family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 547 census records available for the last name Riddleston. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Riddleston census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

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Passenger Lists

There are 46 immigration records available for the last name Riddleston. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 28 military records available for the last name Riddleston. For the veterans among your Riddleston ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Riddleston lifespan?

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Riddleston ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Riddleston

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