Risbridger

This interesting and unusual name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is topographical for a "dweller by the brushwood-bridge or causeway". It is derived from the Old English pre 7th Century "hris", brushwood and "brycg", the bridge or causeway. However, the name could also be locational from any one of the following places: Rice Bridge in Sussex, Risebridge in Essex, Rising Bridge in Northampshire and Ridgebridge in Surrey, all of which have the same origin as Risbridger. Topographical surnames were among the earliest created, since both natural and man-made features in the landscape provided easily recognisable distinguishing names. The modern surname can be found as Risbridger, Risbridge and Rusbridger. The marriages were recorded in St. James's, Duke's Place, London, of Eliza Risbridger and John Wells on January 17th 1666, and of Joseph Risbridger and Sarah Miles on August 8th 1730. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Rysebriggr, which was dated 1497, in the Subsidy Rolls of Surrey, during the reign of King Henry V11, known as "Henry Tudor", 1485 - 1509. 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.