Map of England showing where the Ridgway arms are recorded
The Ridgway arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1602.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought a coat of arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Ridgway arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Devon.
Origin & History of the Ridgway Family in England
The family name Ridgway is a locational surname, which means it was originally used to describe people who lived near a specific path or a road along a ridge. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Devon, England. Records from 1602 confirm that members of the Ridgway family were active in this region, where they were often involved in local landholding and trade. As the name spread throughout the English countryside, it evolved from a simple description of a person’s home into a permanent family identifier. This transition reflects the way many English surnames were formed during the medieval and early modern periods, as families became more settled and needed formal names for legal and tax documents.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
hrycg and weg
Old English terms for a ridge or spine and a path.
This name
RidgwayRefers to someone who lived near a path or road located along a ridge.
also spelled
Rydgeway
Ridgway
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Devon Archives and Local Studies Service, Quarter Sessions Records, 1602
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
