Dryden Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Dryden last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Dryden last name
Meaning of the Dryden last name: dry valley. Dryden is an English surname from a place in Cumberland or the Scottish Borders, from Old English dryge, "dry", and denu, "valley". It is found in the north of England and southern Scotland. John Dryden was the first Poet Laureate of England, and the last name is also common in Canada.
Arms associated with the Dryden name
Coats of arms associated with the Dryden last name belong to the English heraldic tradition, each with its own blazon.
Get your full Dryden family history
This is only a glimpse of the Dryden story. The full Dryden history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Dryden coat of arms. Get the full Dryden report.
Dryden name FAQ
What does the Dryden name mean?
Dry valley. Common variants include Driden.
Where does the Dryden surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Dryden coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Dryden coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).