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Ritter Family History

Recorded in England as Rider and Ryder, and in Germany as Retter and Ritter, this is a surname of two possible meanings. The first is from the Anglo-Saxon and Germanic pre 7th century word "ridere", itself from ridan, meaning to ride, and as such an occupational surname given originally to a mounted warrior or 'cnit', the modern knight. In England after the Norman Conquest of 1066, and the introduction of the feudal system, rider or ryder described a messenger, whilst knight became a status name and described a landed tenant, one who was bound to serve his lord as a mounted soldier.

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Sara

I heard that my birth grandmother's name was Susan Ritter who lived in Indiana in the 1960's. I have no way of locating her but if her name rings a bell to any of you Ritter's out there I would love to hear from you!

Heinrich Ritter

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