Aldrich
A surname that likely began as a medieval personal name, later reinforced by forms like Aldridge.
The #2,060 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 17,634 Americans shares it.
Etymology
This surname is generally treated as coming from an old personal name, Aldrich, which appears in medieval records. The name is linked with the Old English name-elements eald or eald, meaning "old," and ric, meaning "power," "rule," or "ruler," though some early writers also handled it simply as an inherited ancient personal name. Over time it was used as a hereditary surname and was also associated with the related form Aldridge.
History
Medieval record forms include Aldrech and Aldryche, showing how the name was written before spelling settled. Bardsley notes that Aldrich survives in both English and American directories, and that Aldridge is a closely related spelling that has often been treated as the same family name. Lower also classed Aldrich as an ancient personal name rather than a place-name surname.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In older surname studies, Aldrich was often discussed alongside Aldridge because the two forms were seen as closely connected and sometimes interchangeable in records.
From the historical record
“ALDRED, An A-Sax. personal name. ALDRICH. An ancient personal name. As a surname it is foimd in the H.E. ALDRIDGE. Places in Staffordshire and elsewhere. ALDUS. Local. " The old house." ALDWINCKLE. Two parishes in co. Northampton are so called. ALDWORTH. A parish in Berkshire,”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom