This surname ALDRIDGE was derived from the Old English name 'Aelfric' a baptismal name, dating to the 11th century. The name was brought into England in the wake of the Norman Conquest of 1066, and the first of the name on record is Aluric (without surname) listed as a tenant in the Domesday Book of 1086. Early records of the name also mention Hugo Aelurici, 1090, County Suffolk. John filius Aldrich was recorded in County Yorkshire, 1273. William Ailriche, was documented in County Somerset, during the reign of Edward III (1327-1377). Robertus Aldrich of Yorkshire, was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379. John Aldryche was recorded as the bailiff of Yarmouth in the year 1469. Robert Aldrich of Aldridge, Buckinghamshire who died in 1556, was a scholar and divine. Peter Aldrich and Catherine Powell were married in London in the year 1609. The name was also a locational name from Aldridge Grove in Buckinghamshire or from a small spot in County Worcestershire, now extinct. Surnames derived from placenames are divided into two broad categories; topographic names and habitation names. Topographic names are derived from general descriptive references to someone who lived near a physical feature such as an oak tree, a hill stream or a church. Habitation names are derived from pre-existing names denoting towns, villages and farmsteads. Other classes of local names include those derived from the names of rivers individual houses with signs on them, regions and whole countries. As a general rule, the further someone had travelled from his place of origin, the broader the designation. Someone who stayed at home might be known by the name of his farm or locality in the parish; someone who moved to another town might be known by the name of his village; while someone who moved to another county could acquire the name of the county or region from which he originated. The name has numerous variant spellings which include Aldrick, Aldrich, Alldridge, Alleridge, Elderidge and Elrick. The associated arms are recorded in Sir Bernard Burkes General Armory. Ulster King of Arms in 1884. Registered at Ipswich and Oxfordshire. The bulk of European surnames in countries such as England and France were formed in the 13th and 14th centuries. The process started earlier and continued in some places into the 19th century, but the norm is that in the 11th century people did not have surnames, whereas by the 15th century they did.