Kitteridge

This unusual surname has its origins in a very old Anglo-Scandinavian personal name, "Cytelric". This baptismal name is a good example of the many compound names dating from the 9th Century, composed of Old Norse and Old Swedish elements, joined with Olde English elements. Here the name is derived from the Old Norse word "ketill", meaning "sacrificial cauldron", and the Olde English pre 7th Century "ric", meaning "power". Roger Keteryche is noted in the Court Rolls of the Borough of Colchester (1379). The surname can also be found spelt as Keteridge, Ketteridge, Kettridge and Kitteridge. Recordings of the surname from English Church Registers include: the christening of John Kyttrydge on May 22nd 1553, at St. Michael's, Cornhill, London; the christening of Thomas, son of Richard Kettridge, on May 13th 1598, at St. Giles' Cripplegate, London; and the marriage of Elizabeth Kittredge and Christopher Taylor on May 14th 1778, at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. The Coat of Arms most associated with the family depicts a gold lion rampant on a black shield, the Crest being a gold lion's head coming out of a gold mural coronet. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Adam Keterych, which was dated 1379, in the "Fine Court Rolls of Essex", during the reign of King Edward 11, known as "Edward of Caernafon", 1307 - 1327. 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.