Surname Rigden - Meaning and Origin
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Rigden: What does the surname Rigden mean?
The surname Rigden is thought to have originated from England within the vicinity of Cornwall and Devon. Its earliest spelling is thought to have been recorded as Rigdoun, which could have been derived from either an Anglo-Saxon personal name Rig or an Anglo-Saxon name of unknown meaning Riga.
The variation of Rigden could then have potentially arisen from the adjectival form of the personal name, Rigdene. From the Middle English period onward, the Rigden surname has become widespread throughout Devon and Cornwall.
Most recently, Rigden is a relatively uncommon surname spread primarily throughout Great Britain. Given its Anglo Saxon roots, Rigden is believed to have first been used to refer to someone who had a connection to the Rig family or Rig estates.
Rigden is thought to have roots in the Middle English words for 'town' (rigdoun/den) due to the term typically being used to refer to properties or land related to a certain family or estate. It could also be a variation of the Middle English word, reydon meaning power or strength, which is derived from the Old English word ræd meaning 'counsel'.
Overall, the Rigden surname has a complex history and could have originated from a variety of sources and contexts. Its roots typically refer to either strength, power, or a connection to a certain family or land.
Order DNA origin analysisRigden: Where does the name Rigden come from?
Rigden is an English surname, derived from a combination of the Old English words 'ric' (rule) and 'dene' (valley). It is most common today in the southeast of England, particularly in Surrey, Kent, and Sussex. Here, there is a concentration of people who trace their ancestry back to settlers of the Middle Ages.
There is also a family of Rigdens living in Cornwall, contrasting with their traditional home in the south east. This family appears to trace its name back to Elizabeth Rigden, who was born in 1705. Her descendants are believed to have emigrated to Cornwall during the 1700s and then spread the family name.
The name Rigden is also fairly common throughout the United Kingdom. Rigdens live in places like Devon, Oxfordshire, Lancashire, and South Wales. In Northern Ireland, there is also an adopted Rigden family, who are descended from 2 18th century immigrants who took the Rigden surname from their original family name.
The Rigden name has seen a recent revival in the modern era, as well. There is a professional racecar driver called Oli Rigden, and a Manchester-based tech entrepreneur, Harry Rigden. There have also been actors, musical composers, and even a few authors who have taken on the Rigden surname in recent years.
Overall, it's safe to say the name Rigden can still be found in most corners of the British Isles today. Despite being a somewhat a rare name, its presence is still quite ubiquitous in the United Kingdom.
Variations of the surname Rigden
The surname Rigden originates from England and can be found in various spellings and variants. The most common variations are Redgind, Redgin, Riggen, Rigin, Rigins, and Redding. It is believed that these alternative spellings may have been created due to local dialect or because of the difficulty of spelling long or complicated words.
The name may have initially been derived from the pre-7th century Old English words ‘ricge’ for ridge, and ‘denu’ which means valley. Therefore, Rigden literally means ‘ridge valley’.
Other variations of the surname include Reding, Redingay, Redin, Reeding, Reedingay, Reedin, Readin, Redingoon, and Ridgden. These spellings may have been arrived at because of the phonetic spelling of the surname, which could have been pronounced differently over the years.
The Rigden surname can also be found in many other countries as well. In Scotland, the name appears as Redgound, while in Scandinavia it is close to the Rigdahl spelling. In Wales, the variant Ryggen is also found.
Rigden can also be a surname on its own, or it can be found as part of a patronymic or other surname. Examples of names that include the Rigden surname are Rigden-Lyell, Rigdens-Hendriks, Rigden-Eales, Rigden-Shepherd, and Rigden-Lionel.
Famous people with the name Rigden
- Jodie Rigden: British actress best known for her roles in TV shows such as Emmerdale, Coronation Street and Doctors
- Dan Rigden: British actor and writer, known for his roles in TV series Casualty and Doctors
- Sabrina Rigden: British actress and singer, known for her performances in LA to Vegas and The Wrong Mother
- Barry Rigden: Australian cricket coach and selector
- Charles Rigden: English cricketer
- Joseph Rigden: British Olympic swimmer
- Kate Rigden: Canadian singer-songwriter
- Rebecca Rigden: British artist and designer
- Sybil Rigden: British actress who has appeared in shows like Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife, and Mapp and Lucia
- Will Rigden: British sports broadcaster and television presenter