Where does the etheridge name orginate from?

Question

Where does the etheridge name orginate from?

Answer 1

It is an English name. This is a great site for finding the origins of English surnames:

http://www.nationaltrustnames.org.uk/

Selecting 1881 shows you the distribution of the name in the census of 1881 and that gives you a good idea of where the name originated, as people didn't move around very much before the 20th century.

Looks like Etheridge is from southern England, probably Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset or Gloucestershire.

Answer 2

Surname: Etheridge

This interesting surname, of Anglo-Saxon origin with variant spellings Athridge, Ateridge, Etridge, Ettridge, Etheridge, Etheredge and Ethridge, derives from the personal name "Aethericus", itself deriving from the Olde English pre 7th Century given name "Aethelric", meaning "noble-ruler". It may also be a topographical name for someone residing "at the ridge", deriving from the Olde English "aet", at, plus "hrycg", meaning "ridge". Topographical surnames were developed when former inhabitants of a place moved to another area, usually to seek work, and were best identified by the name of their birthplace. The surname dates back to the late 13th Century (see below), and further early recordings include: John Etherych, listed in the 1524 Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk; the christening of Margaret, daughter of Joseph Atridge, on July 10th 1597, at St. Dunstan's, Stepney, London; and the marriage of Marye Atridge and Wyllyam Beyton on September 14th 1606, at St. John's, Hackney, London; and the marriage of John Attridge and Jone Goudge at St. Nicholas, Cole Abbey, London, on November 30th 1646. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Jacob Atteriche, which was dated 1273, in the "Hundred Rolls of Berkshire", during the reign of King Edward 1, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

This is what www.ancestry.com has to say about the name.

Etheridge Name Meaning and History

English: altered form of Edrich, from the Middle English personal name Edrich, Ederick, Old English Eadric, composed of the elements ead ‘prosperity’, ‘fortune’ + ric ‘power’. Current since the beginning of the 17th century, it developed from the late 16th-century forms Et(t)riche, Et(t)ridge.

Hope this helps.