Origins

The surnames RIDGWAY and RIDGEWAY commonly seen today are of British (Britain: before it was divided into England, Wales and Scotland) origin. Variations and/or derivations of the surname include: Ridware, Rydeware, Rydgeway, Rugewaye, Wrydgway, Rudgwy, Ridgwaie.

Surnames did not become a necessity until late in the 10th century when areas became so heavily populated and communications were wider spread. It became necessary to add additional identifiers when conversing about people.

For instance: "John broke his leg yesterday."

"John from the hill?"

"No, John of the dale."

When conversation was rushed the "John of the hill" became "John hill" and "John of the dale" became "John dale". Capitalization of the surname was introduced at a later date as well. These were only steps toward surnames. There were no true English surnames until "John of the hill" actually became known as "John hill" and the name was passed down to his descendants. This did not occur overnight as a person's name was something that was cumulatively earned over the years and carried with it all the good (or bad) deeds associated with it. It was punishable by death to take another's name or coat of arms (see heraldry below) without being officially granted the rights to the name (or coat of arms).

British surnames are derived from one or more of the following:

patronymics: a name that is derived from the name of a father or ancestor; e.g., Johnson, MacDonald, O'Neill

matronymic or metronymic: a name derived from the name of a mother or a maternal ancestor (rare).

toponym: a name derived from a geographical place e.g. John of the Dale, John Dale

eponym: a name derived from the name of person (real or imaginary) as the name of Alexandria is derived from the name of its founder: Alexander the Great

Wouldn't it follow that a name derived from an occupation e.g. John Smith (Blacksmith) would be an occunym or that descronym would be defined as a name derived from a personal descriptor e.g. John Long, Bill Short.

The Ridgway surname evolved or derived from Ridware (Rydeware) - a toponym. The Ridgway history (see ref 1) states "Asser (or Asceur of Edinghall {Referred to as Enunghalle in Domesday}) primary residence was at Ridware. Hence he also became known as Asser of Ridware." But it wasn't until the following generation did it become more commonly used again as William (de Rydeware) again took up the manor at Ridware. Several generations later in 1375, with John Ridgway, the surname took on the now familiar spelling of Ridgway. This apparent change in name is probably caused by the peculiarities of the English pronunciation with its spelling. Ridgway in his book (see ref 1) states "We find nine different forms in which the name was written, viz.:Ridware, Rydeware, Rydgeway, Rugewaye, Wrydgway, Rudgwy, Ridgwaie. While on the tomb of Sir Thomas Ridgway in Torr Church, Devon, England is Rudgwy."

References:

1. Descent of the Ridgway-Ridgeway Family in England and America by George C. Ridgway Evansville, Indiana

Heraldry