The original double-barrelled surnames revived an Olde English tradition which, in the days long before surnames, conjoined contrasting descriptive words to form, what later became personal names or surnames, in their own right. Most double-barrelled names are of Victorian origin, and were a way of publicly demonstrating the love between the two parties, as well as a sharing of more worldly goods. In the case of Waller-Bridge, Waller is usually of Old French origins. It derives from "gallier", a nickname for "a person of pleasant disposition", Adam le Walere being so recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Hampshire in the year 1280. The name can also be job-descriptive, one John le Wallere being recorded as a builder of the City of London Walls in 1312, in the reign of Edward 11. Sir Thomas Waller was knighted at Blackwater Fort, County Armagh, in 1597, and later Lord Deputy of Ireland. Bridge, again is a descriptive name usually for the keeper of a bridge, an important post in the medieval period. The name is Olde English, deriving from "brycy", a word which originally described a raised causeway, Roger dil Brigge, of Suffolk, being recorded in the 1327 Subsidy Rolls for the county. The Coat of Arms is usually given as silver, a red chief, overall a black bend engrailed. Both Waller and Bridge were among the early settler names into America, Thomas Waller, aged 24 yrs., was a passenger on the ship "Transport", in July 1635, while Elisha Bridge left in April of the same year. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Waliere, which was dated 1185, a member of the Knight Templars of Kent, during the reign of King Henry 11, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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