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Question:The family name Ritchey in our family was once spelled Ritchie and we were told we came from England. Yet when I search up the name it says Scottish. Is their any more anyone can find on this name?


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: The family name Ritchey in our family was once spelled Ritchie and we were told we came from England. Yet when I search up the name it says Scottish. Is their any more anyone can find on this name?

You have to remember that while the name may have come from Scotland your family could well have lived in England for a time. Family's move around the UK for many reasons, work being the biggest reason.

Good luck and good hunting

I agree with Ben on this one, there is also the fact that the census enumerators, used the system if in doubt guess, that's why so many names have been changed through the years, I had a look on www.ancestry.com an it does say that
'Ritchey' is a variation of 'Ritchie'
Ritchey
Scottish, northern Irish, or English: variant spelling of Ritchie 1.
Perhaps also an altered spelling of Swiss German Rütsche, Rütschi, Ruetschi, from pet forms of the personal name Rudolf.
Hope this helps.

Lots more, and you are the one to do it. Start with your parents and work back. The resolved questions are full of links and tips. It is a fascinating hobby. You may find you have both Scot AND English lines in you. Once in a while love flourished across the great cultural divide.