This interesting surname, with variant spelling Ruddell, is of English locational origin from either of two places. Firstly, it may be from a place called Rudhall in Gloucester which derives its name from the old English pre 7th Century personal byname "Rudda", from "rud(ig)" meaning red or ruddy, plus "halh" a nook, recess or remote valley; hence "Rudda's valley". It may also have originated from Ryedale in the North Riding of Yorkshire, which gets its name from the river Rye, which derives from the Latin "rivus" a stream or the Welsh "rhiw" a hill or ascent plus the old English "dael" a valley, hence "valley of the river Rye". The surname is first recorded in the mid 11th Century (see below). One, Alan de Ridale, appears in the Early Yorkshire Charters (circa 1160) and William Ridell is noted in the pleas before the King or his Justices, Northamptonshire (1205). Later church recordings include on November 26th 1626, Edward, son of Mary Ruddle, was christened at St. Mary Whitechapel, Stepney, whilst on May 31st 1731, Stephen Ruddell married Ann Edes at St Georges chapel, Mayfair. The marriage of Francis Ruddle and Edith Backster took place on November 2nd 1631 at St. Benet Pauls Wharf, London. William, son of Francis Ruddle was christened in the same place, on August 9th 1634. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Gervasius Ridel, which was dated 1048, (The Genealogist), during the reign of King Macbeth (usurper), King of Scotland, 1040 - 1057. 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.