Dandridge

The surname Dandridge is an English habitational name derived from a place near Ledbury in Herefordshire. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English words 'denn' meaning a pasture or wooded valley and 'hrycg' meaning a ridge, indicating that the name refers to someone who lived near a wooded ridge or hillock.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Dandridge dates back to the early 13th century in the Pipe Rolls of Herefordshire from 1208-1209, where a Roger de Denerugg is mentioned. By the late 13th century, the spelling had evolved closer to the modern form, with a William de Denderugge appearing in records from 1275.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings such as Denderigge, Denderugge, and Denderych in medieval records from Herefordshire and Worcestershire. A notable early bearer of the name was John Denderych, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327.

The surname Dandridge gained prominence in the 16th century with the birth of Sir William Dandridge (1512-1587), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Malvern in Worcestershire. His descendants continued to hold significant estates in the region for several generations.

Another well-known figure was Bartholomew Dandridge (1571-1638), a clergyman who served as the Rector of Wootton Rivers in Wiltshire during the early 17th century. He was a renowned scholar and author of several religious works.

In the 18th century, Martha Dandridge Custis (1731-1802) gained fame as the wife of George Washington, the first President of the United States. She was born Martha Dandridge and married George Washington as his second wife in 1759.

The Dandridge family also had connections to the English aristocracy, with Frances Dandridge (1786-1839) marrying Lord William Howard Vyse, a prominent English aristocrat and traveler, in 1818.