The Birth of a New Surname Variation – Tedridge

A Misspelt Surname

Two months ago I was in Cardiff Registry Office waiting to register the death of my aunt.  At the counter was a gentleman in a very heated argument with the Registrar’s Assistant. He was waving a birth certificate in one hand and a driving licence in the other hand.  His complaint was that he had registered the birth of his child a few weeks ago and the surname on the certificate was spelt wrongly, despite the fact that he had given the registrar his driving licence to spell the surname. The assistant politely told him that when he registered the birth he was given the chance to check the certificate.  Since he had confirmed the accuracy of the certificate at that time the surname could not be changed. The only option was to change the name by deed poll at a cost. This incident took place in 2017 when we can all read and write - no wonder surname changes happened historically.

Ernest Percival Tedridge

The surname Tedridge is an illustration of how misspelling can create a new surname.  There is no record of anyone born with the surname Tedridge before 1912.  In September 1912 the birth of Ernest Percival Tedridge was registered in Southampton.  His birth certificate shows he is the son of Amelia Tedridge, hotel waitress of Southampton. He was born on 26 August at 1a Chilworth Road, Shirley Warren, Southampton.  The birth was registered by J C Young who described themselves as “occupier 1a Chilworth Road”, it was not registered by the parents or other relative. Since there are no Tedridges before this birth we can only conclude that the mother was in fact Amelia Tidridge not Amelia Tedridge.  Amelia Minnie Tidridge was born in 1891 one of eleven children born to Harry John Tidridge and Emma Louise Newman.  Harry and Emma Tidridge lived in Silverdale Road, Southampton just 3 miles away from where Ernest was born.

The Tedridge Surname

It therefore appears the birth of Ernest was erroneously registered as Tedridge.  Ernest kept his new surname and went on to marry Elsie. Their children and following generations kept the new family name of Tedridge.

A Tidridge Wedding

Recently someone commented that one of my posts was not very cheerful. On reflection this is true and many of the blogs cover sad stories. The reason is that it seems easier to find bad news in the papers and records than good news. I've written about war deaths, accidental deaths, murder, railway accidents, cemeteries, infant mortality, suicides and tuberculosis and I still have lots more of these sort of tales! However this is my 100th family history blog - so to celebrate I have found a happy story!

So here is an article that appeared in the Hampshire Telegraph over 84 years ago, giving a very full description of a Hampshire wedding that took place in Southampton in 1933.

Hampshire Telegraph 14 July 1933

A Hedge End Wedding Party

Miss Ethel Clark and Mr Walter Tidridge were the bride and bridegroom

Considerable interest was shown in the marriage which was solemnized at the Parish Church of St John’s, on Thursday afternoon in last week, between Miss Ethel Frances Clark, daughter of the late Mrs Clark and of Mr G Clark, of Hillsbrow, Hedge End, and Mr Walter Sidney Tidridge. The Rev. Evan Jones, Vicar of Hedge End, officiated and Mr F Stafford Silverlock was at the organ. The bride, who was given away by her father, was attired in a bridal gown of ivory crepe-de- Chine with veil and coronet of orange blossom. She also wore a crystal necklace (the gift of the bridegroom) and carried a shower bouquet of white carnations. There were seven bridesmaids, the Misses Daisy Tidridge (sister of the bridegroom), Amy Barfoot, Mabel Barfoot, Ella Farmer, Peggy Goodall, Myra Farmer (nieces of the bride), and Florence Sawyer (friend of the bride). The elder bridesmaids wore floral georgette dresses with tiaras of carnation petals and pearls and carried bouquets of pink carnations, while the smaller bridesmaid wore dresses of eau-de-nil crepe suede with small caps of net and buttercups, and carried posies of choice yellow flowers.  The bridegroom’s gifts of the elder bridesmaids were butterfly wing and silver compacts from Rio, while the little ones received necklaces also from Rio. As the bride and bridegroom left the church Master Donald Goodall, on behalf of his father who was unable to attend, presented a floral horse shoe to the bride.  Mr George Tidridge (brother of the bridegroom) was best man. The bridegroom’s mother wore a dress of grey with coatee and a navy blue hat to tone. She also carried a bouquet of lilies. A reception was held at the St John’s Room, the wedding cake being made by Miss Wells, a friend of the bride. Later the happy couple left for Sway, the bride travelling in a dress of cherry red  crepe-de-Chine with brown coat and hat.


Walter Tidridge was the youngest of eleven children born to Harry Tidridge and Emma Newman between 1884 and 1905 in Southampton.  Walter was born on 13th August 1905.  It was 6th July 1933 when Walter married 26 year old Ethel Frances Clark at Hedge End, Southampton.

What makes the story extra happy is that Walter and Ethel went on to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary in 1983.  When Walter died in 1990 the couple had been married for an amazing 57 years.