Surname deRoutledge - Meaning and Origin
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deRoutledge: What does the surname deRoutledge mean?
The surname deRoutledge appears to be of geographic origin and possibly derived from French and English contexts. The prefix "de" is common in French and means "of" or "from." Routledge may have been a location name.
Different sources suggest the surname Routledge (and variations like Routlidge or Rutteridge) originated from the border region between Scotland and England. Some believe it could be linked to the Old Norse word "rout," meaning a well-beaten track or path, and "ledge," implying a hill or a ridge. So, it might symbolize a path along the hill or ridge.
However, there is no known location in the UK presently or historically named Routledge. Therefore tracing a specific origin is not decisive. Modern bearers of this surname can be traced back to various parts of the UK and Europe.
Note that surname derivation can often be speculative due to the passage of time, changing languages, and many records lost. Furthermore, the true meaning could be specific to a family bearing the name rather than a general interpretation.
It's also significant to remember that the modern usage of surnames, as hereditary from father to child, developed around the 11th to 14th centuries — thus many surnames have meanings related to occupation, geographical features, and other identifiers.
Order DNA origin analysisdeRoutledge: Where does the name deRoutledge come from?
The surname deRoutledge is most commonly found today in the United Kingdom and the United States. In the UK, records indicate that deRoutledge is generally associated with the counties of Surrey, Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire and Lancashire.
The origin of the deRoutledge surname dates back to the 12th century, when it first appeared as 'de Roteleia' in a document of Lancashire. This derives from the Old English words 'rotel' and 'leah', meaning 'red clearing'. It was a name given to a person from a small hamlet in the Lancashire woods of Stainland, near Halifax.
The deRoutledge family was broader during its earliest history, but has since become divided into separate branches. It is believed that a group of deRoutledges migrated to the United States sometime in the 1700s. Today, records of the surname can be found in the US states of Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois and Washington.
Based on records from the 1881 UK Census, the number of deRoutledges decreased considerably over time, from nearly 400 individuals in the early 1800s to only 39 recorded in 1881. This same trend can be seen in the United States, with less than 100 records found in the 2000 US Census.
Today, the deRoutledge name is less common than before, and the number of individuals bearing the surname is relatively small. However, the name remains an enduring part of the British and American family histories, and its roots can be traced back centuries.
Variations of the surname deRoutledge
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname deRoutledge are as follows:
DeRoutledge, De Routledge, Routledge, Routldege, Routlidge, Routhledge, Routhldge, Routhlddge, Routhlidge, Routledg, Routhlidg, Routhlddg, Routlidg, Routlidj, Routledge, Routley, Routly, Routeledge, and Routlee.
The deRoutledge surname is thought to be of Old French origin, first found in various regions of France, including Normandy, Picardy, and Alsace-Lorraine. It likely derived from the Old French personal name Rodeldeg, which is composed of Germanic elements rōd, meaning ‘fame’, and hlād, meaning ‘army’; in Old French, the name would have resembled Roudledge. The surname was later augmented with de, denoting ‘of’, probably in reference to a family’s ancestral home or location from which they originated.
In Britain, the deRoutledge surname is first recorded in the mid-14th century in Lancashire, when John de Routlege was listed in the Lancashire Subsidy Rolls of 1332. Throughout the centuries, the surname has branched off into different variations, likely due to varying cultures and pronunciations. Variations of the name include Routledge, which is a derivative of the French spelling, and Routledge, which could be of either English or Scottish origin. It is also likely that the surname has been Anglicized, resulting in surnames like Routledge, Routhledge, Routly, and Routlee.
Overall, the deRoutledge surname has likely been affected by varying cultures, languages, and dialects throughout Europe, resulting in a variety of spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name deRoutledge
- Alexander DeRoutledge: English cricketer who played in the twentieth century.
- Elizabeth DeRoutledge: British actress known for her work in television shows such as Casualty and Holby City.
- Charles DeRoutledge: Australian professional golfer who was the 2008 Australian Open champion.
- Lucas DeRoutledge: Author of several books on business strategy and leadership.
- JJ DeRoutledge: Scottish footballer who has previously played for Rangers and Dundee United.
- Lawrence DeRoutledge: American businessman and philanthropist who founded the DeRoutledge Foundation, which supports education and charitable causes in the US.
- Thomas DeRoutledge: Former member of the Canadian House of Commons and mayor of New Westminster, British Columbia.
- Bill DeRoutledge: American entrepreneur and former chairman of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.
- Anastasia DeRoutledge: British painter known for her portraits of horses and other equestrian subjects.
- Alice DeRoutledge: English novelist who wrote the bestselling historical novel, The Golden Hare.