This most interesting surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is a variant of Ridler, which derives ultimately from the Olde English "hriddel", a sieve, and the Middle English "rid(e)len", to sift. This was probably an occupational name for a sifter of flour or meal, or was given to someone who sifted sand and lime in making mortar. People often acquired surnames from the type of occupation they had, which was one way of distinguishing people from one another in medieval times. The surname itself is first recorded in the early 13th Century (see below) and Andrew le Rydelere was recorded in 1294 in Bedfordshire, in the "Court Rolls of the Abbey of Ramsey and the Honor of Clare". William Rydler married Dorothie Loyes on June 25th 1566 at St. James', Clerkenwell, London, and Christian Ridler married Thomas Kenton on September 21st 1628 at St. Olave's, Harte Street, London. Other recordings include the marriage of John Ridler and Martha Harte on November 4th 1658 at St. Peter-le-Poer, London, while, Ann Riddler married William Swimbank on June 11th 1730 at St. Katherine by the Tower, London. A Coat of Arms was granted to a Ridler family at Edgeworth, Gloucestershire, and depicts, a red bull passant on a green mount in base, on a silver shield. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Geoffrey le Ridelere, which was dated 1230, in the "Pipe Rolls of Somerset", during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. 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.