Elbridge

Elbridge is a masculine given name of English origin and is also found as a surname. The name is typically treated as a compound of Old English elements, often interpreted as meaning elf (or noble) and bright, producing a sense of “elf-bright” or “noble-bright.” It became more common in the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries, but today it remains relatively rare.

Notable bearer of the given name include Elbridge Gerry (1744–1814), an American statesman who served as a Massachusetts politician, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and the fifth vice president of the United States under James Madison. His surname spelling, Gerry, is sometimes encountered as a variant in reference to him. The name has appeared in various other historical figures, though it is not common in contemporary naming.

In geography, Elbridge refers to a town in New York, United States. The place name reflects the broader use of the given name in American toponymy, where individuals or families bearing the name contributed to local naming practices in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Overall, Elbridge is primarily of historical interest in onomastic literature and is occasionally encountered in genealogical contexts. While its use as a first name has declined, it remains part of the record of English-origin given names that entered American civic and social life in the early national period.