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Site & Project Coordinator: Brian OTRIDGE: brianotridge at yahoo dot co dot uk

Sorry for this format, but I'm fed up with spam, which picks up on e-mail addresses on websites

  Document Transcripts (Also accessible through database)

 

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The Name

The surname is rare: there are about 150 OTRIDGEs, OATRIDGEs and OTTRIDGEs on Electoral Rolls in Canada, England, Germany, Ireland, South Africa and the USA, no more than 300 alive today. The UK population of about 200 represents 1 in 300,000 of the population, in the USA it is 10 times rarer!

Evidence from England in the 16th to 19th Centuries shows that the same individuals were recorded with different alternate names on events through their lives. There are other variations that I have found in records, including OATRICH (in Wales, not to be confused with the German-originated OTRICH family in the USA) WOTRIDGE (in Somerset), OTTERIDGE, HOTRIDGE, OLRIDGE, OAKRIDGE, and variations with the "D" missing, eg OTRIGE.

Some of these are caused by differences between the speaker's and listener's dialect. For instance, a West Country person saying OTRIDGE, would emphasise the R: Oat-r-idge and this might be written down as OATTERIDGE. A Londoner would use their glottal stop: Ot-ridge, and this would be written OTTRIDGE. Endings in -redge are other heard interpretations. All the OTRIDGEs and OATRIDGEs I know pronounce their name O-tridge. The OTTRIDGE branch pronounce their name Ot-tridge

Other variations are errors made by modern day transcribers in reading hand-written records: OAKRIDGE, ODRIDGE and OLRIDGE seem to fall into this category.

ALL of today's English OTRIDGEs and OTTRIDGEs are related through Samuel OTRIDGE born in 1777 (The co-ordinator's great-great-great-grandfather - his father was recorded as an OATRIDGE). Some of his descendants also spelt their name OATRIDGE, although there were numerous parallel OATRIDGE branches at that time. It is therefore reasonably certain that the majority of today's OT(T)RIDGEs and OATRIDGEs are in some way or other related, if we go back enough generations.

Other variations are not integrated with these spellings. The OUT variations, such as OUTRIDGE, OUTTERIDGE, OUTTEREDGE, seem to be completely separate, being based historically in the Home Counties. Also OLDRIDGE, ORLIDGE and ATTRIDGE are completely separate: the former is a spelling variation of ALDRIDGE/ELDRIDGE, the ORLIDGEs are a large Devon/Cornwall family, and the ATTRIDGEs appear to have Irish roots.

However, a potential link with the OUT*RIDGEs is not entirely discounted. As discussed below the origination of OTRIDGE/OATRIDGE may be from OUGHTRED (14th/15th Century) itself from UGHTRED/UCHTRED (9th - 12th Centuries) and that name may also link to the OUT*RIDGEs.

I am also keeping an open mind on the OSTRIDGE family. Whilst the sounding of this name is different, the spelling is close. They originated in the Marlborough, Wilts area and migrated to the Reading area in the 19th Century. The possibility of a link there is not discounted.

Soundex systems come up with O363 for the "core" names, and that seems to describe the majority of the surname-spellings researched. However, to be more recognisable, we use the "banner" O(A)T*RIDGE that is more illustrative of the majority of family members (* means any or no character and brackets means optional character).

The complete list of alternatives that have been found are as follows. Some 'overlap' with alternative spellings of other families, eg; OTRICH (German), OUTRIDGE (Home Counties) and UTTERIDGE (East Anglia)

HOTRYGE, HOTTRIDGE,

OAKRIDGE, OATERIDGE, OATRICH, OATRIDG, OATRIDGE, OATRIGE, OATTRIDGE, ODRIDGE, OLIGE, ORTRIDGE, OTEREDGE, OTERIDGE, OTHERIDGE, OTHRIDGE, OTRADGE, OTRAGE, OTRICH, OTRIDG, OTRIDGE, OTRUDGE, OTTEREDGE, OTTERIDGE, OTTRIDGE, OUGHTRIDGE, OUTRICH, OUTRIDG, OUTRIDGE,

ROTRIDGE,

UTTERIDGE,

WOATRIDGE, WOODRIDGE, WOOTRIDGE, WOTERIDGE, WOTREDG, WOTREGEEH, WOTRIDG, WOTRIDGE,

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Spouse Surnames

The following is a list of surnames of spouses that will be found on the database search page.

ABEL, AHERN, AITKEN, ALDRIDGE, ANDERSON, ANSLEY, APPLEGATE, ATKINS, ATKINSON, ATWOOD, AYRES,

BACKMAN, BAGLIN, BAKER, BALL, BANISTER, BANKS, BARCOCKE, BARNARD, BARNES, BARTON, BATCHELOR, BATHE, BATHURST, BENNETT, BETSWORTH, BEVAN, BIGWOOD, BIRD, BISHOP, BLAKE, BORTON, BOUSFIELD, BRACKSTONE, BRAINE, BRICK, BRIGHT, BROADLEY, BROOKES, BROOKS, BROWN, BROWNING, BRUNCKER, BUDD, BUDGE, BURGES, BURGESS, BURNELL, BURTON, BUSBY, BUSSELL, BUTCHER, BUTLER, BUTT,

CADWALLADER, CAMPBELL, CAPP, CARSBERG, CATER, CHANDLER, CHANLER, CHAPPERLIN, CLARINGBOLD, CLARK, CLARKE, CLEEVE, CLIFT, CLUTTERBUCK, COE, COLE, COLES, COLLAR, COOMBES, COOMBS, COOPER, CORDEN, CORK, COURT, CRAB, CREAN, CROOK, CROOM, CROSS, CUMMING, CUPIE,

DAGGER, DARK, DAVIES, DAVIS, DEE, DICKS, DOULE, DRIVER, DUDLEY, DUFFIN,

EADES, EASTGATE, EDWARDS, EVANS, EXCELL, EYLES,

FARMER, FARRATT, FAWNE, FERGUSON, FERRIS, FINBOW, FISHER, FORD, FOSTER, FRANCIS, FRANKLIN, FREEGARD, FRIEND, FRY, FUSTER,

GAGG, GAINS, GALE, GEATRELL, GENDERS, GIBBON, GIBBONS, GILBERT, GORDON, GRANGER, GRANT, GRAY, GRAYHURST, GREEN, GRIFFITHS, GRIST, GULLIVER, GUNTER, GUY,

HALLIWELL, HALLS, HANCOCK, HARKINS, HARLEY, HARLOW, HARRIS, HARRISON, HARROD, HART, HARVEY, HAVILAND, HAWES, HAWKES, HAWKINS, HAYDEN, HEADINGTON, HEARNE, HEDDING, HEDGES, HELLEN, HELLIER, HERRIDGE, HEWLETT, HIGGANS, HILL, HILLIER, HINTON, HISCOCKS, HOLE, HOLMES, HOLTHAM, HOMEWOOD, HOOD, HOOK, HOOPER, HOPKINS, HOTCHKISS, HOULT, HOWARD, HOWE, HOWELL, HUDSON, HUGGINS, HUGHES, HULL, HUNT, HUNTLEY, HUNTLY, HUTTON,

JACKSON, JAMES, JEFFCOTE, JEFFERIES, JEFFERS, JEFFREY, JENNER, JOB, JOHNSON, JONES,

KEEN, KELLAWAY, KENNEDY, KENT, KIGHT, KING, KINGSTON, KIRKHAM, KITCHENER, KNAPP, KNEE, KNIGHT,

LATCHAM, LAWRENCE, LEECH, LEWENDON, LEWIS, LILLY, LITTLE, LLOYD, LODER, LOOSEMORE, LORD, LOVE, LOWE, LUCAS, LUFF, LUMB, LUSH,

MACATEER, MAISHMAN, MALTBY, MANSFIELD, MARMENT, MARTIN, MASON, MATHEW, MATHEWS, MATTHEWS, MAY, MAYER, McCUTCHEON, McMULLEN, McRAE, MILES, MILLARD, MILLS, MILNER, MINCHIN, MISTT, MITCHELL, MOGFORD, MOLES, MOODEY, MORGAN, MORLEY, MORRIS, MUMBERY, MUNDY,

NAILE, NASH, NELLIGAN, NELSON, NOAKE, NOBLE, NORRIS, NOTT, NOYES,

OSBORNE, OXLEY,

PARADISE, PARKER, PARKIN, PARSONS, PARTRICK, PATE, PAVIOR, PEACHEY, PEACOCK, PEALL, PETTET, PHILO, PICKETT, PIKE, PLUMBLY, POINTER, POKRIDGE, POLLOCK, POOLE, POWELL, PRICE, PRICHARD, PRINGLE, PRINN, PRITCHARD, PROTHEROE, PUGH, PUTTERELL,

QUARRELL,

RADFORD, RALPH, REDMAN, REDSULL, REED, REES, RESTALL, RICE, RICKETTS, RIDLEY, ROBERTS, ROE, ROGERS, ROLT, ROOKE, ROSSIERE, ROWSELL, RUDLAND, RUSSELL, RYLEY,

SADLER, SAINSBERY, SAINSBURY, SALTER, SAMSON, SANSOM, SARGEANT, SAVAGE, SCAMBLER, SCHOOLING, SCOTT, SCUTT, SEABROOK, SENTANCE, SEYTHERS, SHAW, SHIPWAY, SHORTER, SKINNER, SMALL, SMITH, SMITHFIELD, SOUTH, SOUTHAY, SPACKMAN, SPARKS, SPRATBURROUG, STAFFORD, STEPHENSON, STEVENS, STOKES, STONE, STRANGE, STRATTON, STREET, STURPTUP, SUIK, SULLY, SUTTON,

TACHER, TAINTON, TANNER, TAPPING, TARRANT, TAYLOR, TEAKLE, TEBBLE, THOMAS, THORNTON, TIDCOMBE, TIPNEY, TODD, TOMLIN, TRUBY, TUCKER, TUCKEY, TULLETT, TURTLE,

UNCLES, UNDERHILL, UNDERWOODE, UTTERIDGE,

VERCOE, VERNON,

WADHAM, WAITE, WALDRON, WALES, WALKER, WALLIS, WALTON, WARD, WARREN, WATKINS, WATTS, WEAVER, WEB, WEBB, WENT, WESSEN, WEST, WESTON, WHELLER, WHITE, WHITFIELD, WHYTE, WIDDON, WIGHT, WILKINS, WILLIAMS, WILLIS, WIMBUSH, WINDASS, WINSLOW, WOODCOCK, WORTHAM,

YEELES, YEST, YOUNG,

Of the above names the following are my own ancestors that I am so far aware of:

At Sibling Level: LOWE

At Cousin Level (Otridge line): BOUSFIELD

At Cousin Level (Lowe line): BEADLE, SILVERSIDES, KEMBLE, HALL, NEW, OSBORNE, PORTER, ENSOR, LEABERREY, GOURD, COCK, SAMPSON, EVERETT, GEORGE, SWAILE, WILLS, DEAN, BOWLER, DARLEY, CALVERT, SPINCHK, DEE

At 2nd Cousin Level (Otridge line): HUTTON

At 2nd Cousin Level (Bousfield line): SCOTT, PAPER, BACKHOUSE, TODD, COLLEY, CREASOR, TAYLOR, DUNCALFE, COOK, MAJOR, DUCK, WARDALL, TIPLADY, BRANKLEY, ALVIN, CLUBLEY

At 3rd Cousin Level (Otridge line): CROOK

At 3rd Cousin Level (Hutton line): TAYLOR, ROBINSON, BRIGGS, DINELEY, JOHNSON, GIBSON

At 4th Cousin Level (Otridge line): SAINSBURY

At 4th Cousin Level (Crook line): COOMBS, SPACKMAN, EYLES, VINE, LONG, BARANC

At 5th Cousin & beyond (Otridge line): LUCAS, PAVIOR

At 5th Cousin & beyond (Sainsbury line): BIGWOOD, NASH

Details of all these people, and also the ancestors of my wife are in the Ancestral Database. If you link into the line at any level above, then you will also be interested in this.

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Distant History (Perhaps...)

Family surnames were not used for most people until the 13th Century, but there was a tribe of ancient Britons that occupied Maiden Castle near Dorchester, the DUROTRIGES, when the Romans invaded Britain. But that is fanciful, More recently, the OATRIDGEs of the 17th Century in the Lechlade area used a coat of arms, which was very similar to that used by the OUGHTRED family in the 14th Century, who are probably descended from the Anglo-Saxon OUCTRED/OUGHTED family that held the title of Earl of Northumberland. This is another possible origin, but unlikely as no links have been found.

However, our origins could be far more humble being based on a single locative origin somewhere in Wiltshire or Gloucester. Perhaps our research will determine the truth........

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What Prompted the Project ?

The project co-ordinator’s aunt, Christina Mary Otridge (b.1921 Bath) conducted extensive research in the 1970s and 1980s of her ancestors and their siblings. In the process, however, she collected much data on other O(A)T*RIDGEs. Her daughter Heather inherited the work when she died in 1999. Heather gave her cousin (Brian Otridge) a copy of the work.

At the same time, Brian was contacted at work by another OTRIDGE (Colin), who saw his name on the company’s e-mail list. These two coincidental events led Brian to "getting the bug". He brought to bear the power of computing (both Internet research and Genealogy software) to help unravel the mysteries of the family history. The discovery of the Guild of One-Name Studies was the deciding factor in embarking on the one-name study.

Very simply, THE AIM is build a genealogy of every O(A)T*RIDGE who has lived since the surname started, wherever they are in the world, possibly tracing back to an original locative point of origin. A solid series of parallel lines from around 1600 to the present day would be a good start. We have already built three large trees of over 250 people, one starting in 1550, the others in 1720, but many gaps remain.

The help of other family members who have an interest, and other amateur genealogists whose family lines cross with ours, will be greatly appreciated. Together we can build a record that we can leave to our children to encourage them to maintain that kinship into the future.

 

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Locations

Before the 18th Century almost every O(A)T*RIDGE lived within about 25 miles of Bath, Somerset, England: throughout Wiltshire, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. There were inevitably a few in London, but every family had its gold-seeking migrants to the capital, many to return home later in life. The strongest line of the family lived on the Wiltshire/Gloucestershire border and appeared to be fairly major landowners over a wide area. There is an Oatridge Farm in Oaksey, Wilts to this day. There is also an Oatridge Agricultural College near Edinburgh, but I have not yet discovered any migration to there.

Migration in other directions started in the late 18th Century, but they did not establish themselves. However, a Birmingham OATRIDGE family emigrated to New Zealand around 1865 and has established itself there, and a South Wales OATRIDGE family to the USA in the 1880s, and has considerably established itself there.

There were internal migrations towards the industrialised areas of London and Birmingham. Within the space of 75 years the relatively numerous Stroud & District OATRIDGE family (Uley, Horsley and Kings Stanley) had all moved to Birmingham and London .

Two World Wars and greater mobility spread the family further afield across the World and UK, but the largest single regional "clan" is still centred in the West Country.

On the subject of World Wars, 7 English O(A)T*RIDGE family members gave their lives in them: 3 were killed on the Somme in WW1. In WW2, one was killed at Anzio (Italy), one at sea in a merchant vessel, one shot down in the RAF over the Friesian Islands, and one civilian was bombed in the Rhondda - a representative sample of the English nation's sacrifices.

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Living Persons

The ethos is very simple - this site preserves the anonymity of living persons by not including them in the public web site. Any information on living persons shown on the contacts page and the bulletin board is entirely at the discretion of the individual posting that information.

However, it is recognised that sometimes there will be legitimate queries to contact living persons. In special cases, the project co-ordinator will accept an e-mail (giving full postal address and phone number) and forward it to the person sought.

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I hope that you are able benefit from using this site. Any comments or suggestions for improvement will be gratefully accepted.

 

Brian OTRIDGE, Project and Website Co-ordinator

Last Modified: 18 Mar 2006