Routledge (surname)
Routledge is an Anglo-Scottish surname. Variants. Common variant spellings include Rutledge, Ratledge, Ruttledge and Rutlidge. Dozens of other spellings are attested in historical records. History. The surname was first recorded in the 15th century in Scotland along the Anglo-Scottish border, in Liddesdale and the towns of Roxburgh, Hawick and Cavers on the River Teviot. Early Routledges were border reivers. In the 16th century, after their land was destroyed in the Rough Wooing, the family fled across the border and settled in Kilham, Northumberland and Bewcastle and Lanercost, Cumberland. In the 17th century, some Routledges were sent  to Ulster. From Ireland, some immigrated to North America and France in the 17th century, and later Australia in the late 18th century. Geographical distribution. There are approximately 7,100 Routledges worldwide, with the majority residing in England (4,500). In England, the highest concentration of Routledges is in the north, in Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham. Other Routledges are in Canada (890), the United States (580), Australia (540) and Scotland (220) (with most living near the border, in Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway). The Rutledge variant is most common in the diaspora and overall, with 41,000 people  bearing the name worldwide, primarily in the United States (35,000), but also Canada (2,900), Australia (1,000), England (620), New Zealand (350), Ireland (220) and Northern Ireland (200). 1,200 people are named Ratledge, 990 of whom are in the United States. England is home to another 180 Ratledges. 430 people are named Ruttledge, which is most frequent in Ireland (140), and also found in England (130) and the United States (110).