Help from our cousins across the pond?

Question

My last emigrant, to the US, (first one in 1607) was:

James Grabham, who m. Elizabeth Harland, on 17 March, 1831, Borrowby, Parish of Leake, by the Rev. McDent. Borrowby, is in East Riding, Yorkshire.

Tracking the above is a tad difficult, however...my burning query is what does "Riding" mean?

Answer 1

East "Riding" comes from the Old Scandinavian East thrithjungr, meaning the Eastern of the three thirds into which the county was divided (the others being  North and West).

Answer 2

They were three former administrative divisions of Yorkshire,

the North, East and West Ridings.

Make it difficult won't you Bayard Lady   :o)

The term ‘riding’ is of Viking origin and derives from Threthingr meaning a third part.  The ancient Kingdom of Lindsey, known today as Lincolnshire  was also divided into three ridings

You're welcome !

Answer 3

Tebs is correct. The divisions of Yorkshire that used to be known as the Ridings are now simply 'North Yorkshire' (which incudes cities and towns such as York and Northallerton) 'West Yorkshire' (where I live, includes cities such as Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield) and 'East Yorkshire' (includes towns such as Goole and Beverley)