Windridge Family History

From Windrush (Gloucs), which is recorded as Wenerigge in 1250 and Wyndridge in 1590, or possibly from the river that gave its name to the Gloucs place (itself from Proto-Welsh *wïnn ‘white’ + *rēsc ‘fen’). Compare Windross.

From Windridge Farm in Saint Michaels (Herts), which is recorded as Wyndrug(g)e in about 1275, 1342, and 1428, as Wyndrigge in 1389, and as Wenringe in 1198, Wynryng and Wyndryng in 1279.

It probably derives from Old English wind ‘wind’ + hrycg ‘ridge’. The persistent spellings in -ring seem to point to Old English hring ‘ring, circle’, but this makes it difficult to explain the forms in -regge, -rugge, and -rigge.

See Windred for a possible post-medieval development of this name.