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Ridgeon Family History

Ridgeon Surname Meaning

The variant of Rigden features a consonant cluster that simplifies from /gd/ to /ʤ/, resulting in forms such as Ridgeon and Ridgen. This phonetic alteration also includes the lowering of the vowel to produce variations like Re(d)gin, Region, and Regent.

To illustrate this linguistic evolution, we can compare historical records. For instance, Thomas Rygdon is mentioned in the years 1461–2 in the Canterbury Wills (Probate), which took place in Lower Hardres, Kent.

Further examples can be drawn from more recent records. William Ridgen appears in 1661, also in the Kent History Centre, located in Lower Hardres, Kent, providing additional context for this name's variation.

Additionally, the names of Anne Rigdenn from 1628 and Ann Ridgen from 1743, both found in the IGI database for Chislet, Kent, further exemplify the transformation and interchangeability of these surnames over the centuries.

These comparisons not only highlight the phonetic changes that have occurred but also reflect the historical and geographical influences on naming conventions in Kent.

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


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Where is the Ridgeon family from?

You can see how Ridgeon families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Ridgeon family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1871 and 1920. The most Ridgeon families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 68 Ridgeon families living in Suffolk. This was about 55% of all the recorded Ridgeon's in United Kingdom. Suffolk had the highest population of Ridgeon families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Ridgeon 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 Ridgeon ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Ridgeon. 40% of Ridgeon men worked as a General Labourer and 93% of Ridgeon women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Ridgeon were Agricultural Labourer Heavy Worker and Domestic.

View Census Data for Ridgeon | 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.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    40%
  • House Painter
    20%
  • Labourer
    20%
  • Agricultural Labourer Heavy Worker
    20%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    93%
  • Domestic Duties
    5%
  • Domestic
    4%

What Ridgeon family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Ridgeon. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Ridgeon census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Ridgeon

Passenger Lists

There are 166 immigration records available for the last name Ridgeon. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Ridgeon immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 233 military records available for the last name Ridgeon. For the veterans among your Ridgeon ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Ridgeon lifespan?

Average Ridgeon life expectancy in 1994 was 38 years. This was lower than the general public life expectancy which was 73.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Ridgeon

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Ridgeon 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Ridgeon family tree

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