#BlueStarByte: Origin of the term “riding” in Canadian Electoral politics

Today, the term “riding” is used colloquially in Canadian politics to refer to a “constituency” or “electoral district” at the federal, provincial, and local levels. Local associations for political parties in Canada are also called “Riding Associations.” The term was used in Canada in an official capacity, primarily in the 19th century and in its English-speaking provinces, to denote subdivisions of counties. The term’s use in Canada originated in England, where it was used similarly to refer to administrative areas. There is a common misconception that the term was derived from the area of an administrative district that could be covered on horseback within a specific timeframe.

The English term riding derives from riden (Middle English), and ridan (Old English). These terms, in turn, are derived from the Old Norse word þriðing, pronounced thiding, meaning a “third part.” Administrative areas throughout Scandinavia were often divided into þriðjungr during the Viking Age. The use of the term in England began in Anglo-Saxon times, resulting from Viking invasions and settlements in England from the 8th to 10th centuries. The historic county of Yorkshire, part of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria, was divided into three subdivisions covering the county’s Northern, Western, and Eastern portions. Gradually, thriding became riding as “th” at the start of the word was absorbed by the subsequent “th” and ‘t” at the end of North, South, East, and West.