Ridler 
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The coat of arms of the RIDLER FAMILY


I have researched all the Somerset Parishes at present on line and have found in the Parish of Winsford at the church of St Mary Magdalene a John Ridler and his wife Mary had a son, Robert, baptised on 30th July 1797 . 

Robert Ridler is the first ancestor we have traced with documented evidence to our branch of the Ridler's and from Robert the only known male descendent some 200 years later is Benjamin Michael James Ridler, son of Phillip Ridler.

From the entry in the parish burial register of Temple Church, Bedminster, Robert's age was given as 47, indicating he was born in 1794. However the death certificate gives his age as 44, making his birth year as 1797.

Robert died 21st January 1841 just a few months before the 1841 census. 

The earliest record of Robert I have found is his marriage to Jane Boulter on the 24th November 1818 at St.John's church in Bedminster Bristol. One of the witnesses at their wedding was a William Ridler. He could have been Robert's brother or uncle.

The most likely reason that Robert moved to Bedminster was in search of work. There are various groups of Ridler's at the turn of the 18th century centered in Somerset / Devon / Wiltshire  and Gloucestershire.

There appear to be 3 families of Ridler's in Temple parish of Bristol in the early 1800's of which 2 may be related through connections in Somerset. Further research is required.

If any researcher has any information relating to my ancestors please drop me an email at the following 

Tony J Ridler

Ridler
What does this surname mean?
This most interesting surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is a variant of Ridler, which derives ultimately from the Olde English "hriddel", a sieve, and the Middle English "rid(e)len", to sift. This was probably an occupational name for a sifter of flour or meal, or was given to someone who sifted sand and lime in making mortar.
People often acquired surnames from the type of occupation they had, which was one way of distinguishing people from one another in medieval times. 
The surname itself is first recorded in the early 13th Century (see below) and Andrew le Rydelere was recorded in 1294 in Bedfordshire, in the "Court Rolls of the Abbey of Ramsey and the Honor of Clare". William Rydler married Dorothie Loyes on June 25th 1566 at St. James', Clerkenwell, London, and Christian Ridler married Thomas Kenton on September 21st 1628 at St. Olave's, Harte Street, London. 
Other recordings include the marriage of John Ridler and Martha Harte on November 4th 1658 at St. Peter-le-Poer, London, while, Ann Riddler married William Swimbank on June 11th 1730 at St. Katherine by the Tower, London. 
A Coat of Arms was granted to a Ridler family at Edgeworth, Gloucestershire, and depicts, a red bull passant on a green mount in base, on a silver shield. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Geoffrey le Ridelere, which was dated 1230, in the "Pipe Rolls of Somerset", during the reign of King Henry 3rd, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. 
Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. 
Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.