NameCensus.

UK surname

Ram

A surname of Hindi origin referring to a male deity, lord, or king.

In the 1881 census there were 178 people recorded with the Ram surname, ranking it #13,840 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,259, ranked #2,876, up from #13,840 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Bedford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ram is 2,387 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1169.1%.

1881 census count

178

Ranked #13,840

Modern count

2,259

2016, ranked #2,876

Peak year

2010

2,387 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ram had 178 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,840 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,259 in 2016, ranked #2,876.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 178 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Ram surname distribution map

The map shows where the Ram surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Ram surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ram over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 172 #11,682
1881 historical 178 #13,840
1901 historical 155 #17,704
1997 modern 2,079 #2,955
1998 modern 2,138 #2,993
1999 modern 2,144 #3,006
2000 modern 2,101 #3,041
2001 modern 2,062 #3,028
2002 modern 2,146 #2,987
2003 modern 2,177 #2,889
2004 modern 2,174 #2,899
2005 modern 2,194 #2,845
2006 modern 2,209 #2,829
2007 modern 2,247 #2,802
2008 modern 2,276 #2,789
2009 modern 2,333 #2,798
2010 modern 2,387 #2,797
2011 modern 2,377 #2,781
2012 modern 2,284 #2,823
2013 modern 2,290 #2,868
2014 modern 2,296 #2,875
2015 modern 2,235 #2,908
2016 modern 2,259 #2,876

Geography

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Where Rams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Bedford. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a Essex
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wolverhampton 035 Wolverhampton
2 Birmingham 039 Birmingham
3 Birmingham 036 Birmingham
4 Birmingham 034 Birmingham
5 Bedford 015 Bedford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ram

These lists show first names that appear often with the Ram surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ram

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ram, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Ram surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Ram household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Ram is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ram is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ram falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ram is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Indian

This describes the area pattern most associated with Ram, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ram

The surname Ram is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English word 'ramm', meaning 'a ram'. It is believed to have originated in the 11th century as a descriptive name for someone who had some perceived resemblance or characteristic of a ram. Alternatively, it could have been an occupational name for someone who kept or tended rams.

Ram is first recorded as a surname in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as Ramme. It was a relatively common name in medieval England, particularly in counties like Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk. Early examples of the name include William Ramme, mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1166, and Reginald le Ram, recorded in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1283.

In the 14th century, the surname is found in various spellings, such as Ramme, Rammes, and Rammys. The modern spelling of Ram appears to have been established by the 16th century. Notable historical figures with the surname Ram include Sir Thomas Ram (c.1500-1579), an English politician and Sheriff of Norfolk, and Thomas Ram (1572-1653), an English clergyman and author of works on theology and philosophy.

The Ram surname has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Ramsholt in Suffolk and Ramsbury in Wiltshire. These places likely derived their names from Old English words related to 'ram', indicating areas where rams were raised or kept.

Other notable individuals with the surname Ram include John Ram (1553-1610), an English politician and Member of Parliament, and Sir William Ram (1770-1834), an English naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. In the 19th century, Robert Ram (1799-1873) was a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings, including St. Paul's Church in Rusthall, Kent.

Throughout history, the Ram surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including clergymen, politicians, architects, and military officers. While its origins may have been humble, it has become a respected surname with a rich history spanning several centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ram families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ram surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 57 Rams recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.34x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 57 3.34x
Essex 42 12.46x
Surrey 17 2.04x
Norfolk 13 4.95x
Kent 7 1.20x
Suffolk 7 3.37x
Durham 5 0.98x
Cumberland 4 2.72x
Lincolnshire 4 1.47x
Hampshire 3 0.86x
Hertfordshire 3 2.55x
Lancashire 3 0.15x
Glamorgan 2 0.67x
Northumberland 2 0.79x
Rutland 2 15.96x
Oxfordshire 1 0.95x
Shropshire 1 0.68x
Warwickshire 1 0.23x
Yorkshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 17 Rams recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.37x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 17 12.37x
Hackney London 12 12.54x
Ingatestone 12 2222.22x
Waltham Holy Cross 11 349.21x
Kensington London 8 8.43x
Shouldham 8 2162.16x
St George Hanover 8 35.91x
Halesworth 7 476.19x
Faversham 5 90.09x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 5 22.74x
Penge 5 45.87x
Cleator 4 65.36x
Colchester St Botolph 4 139.37x
Holbeach 4 131.58x
Battersea 3 4.78x
Fryerning 3 731.71x
Hertingfordbury 3 625.00x
Holdenhurst 3 32.68x
Newington 3 4.76x
Preston 3 5.54x
Teddington London 3 77.52x
Bethnal Green London 2 2.70x
Bradeston 2 2000.00x
Dartford 2 33.56x
Great Warley 2 263.16x
Hauxley 2 350.88x
Maldon St Peter 2 116.28x
Mountnessing 2 392.16x
Norwich St Stephen 2 82.99x
Penarth 2 68.97x
Roxwell 2 416.67x
St Marylebone London 2 2.19x
Stow Maries 2 1666.67x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 1 16.29x
Camberwell 1 0.92x
Cowley 1 30.40x
Godalming 1 19.08x
Hammersmith London 1 2.38x
Harrow 1 38.31x
Ketton 1 153.85x
Kingston On Thames 1 5.01x
Lambeth 1 0.67x
Oakham Lordshold 1 76.34x
Oswestry Town 1 21.19x
Paddington London 1 1.59x
Poplar London 1 3.10x
Rotherhithe 1 4.74x
Shenfield 1 114.94x
Shoreditch London 1 1.35x
Sprowston 1 86.21x
Sutton Coldfield 1 22.12x
West Thurrock 1 89.29x
Windlesham 1 64.10x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ram surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 11
Elizabeth 7
Charlotte 5
Susan 5
Lucy 4
Sarah 4
Alice 3
Ann 3
Annie 3
Edith 3
Emily 3
Jane 3
Abigail 2
Clara 2
Eliza 2
Margaret 2
Beby 1
Bertha 1
Catherine 1
Daisy 1
Dora 1
Dorothy 1
Eleanor 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Euphemia 1
Evelyn 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Jannie 1
Jeraldine 1
Kathleen 1
Louisa 1
Ludia 1
Luticia 1
Mable 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Phyllis 1
Precilla 1
Rose 1
Rosina 1
Virginia 1
William 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Ram surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 10
John 8
George 6
Thomas 6
James 4
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Stephen 3
Benjamin 2
Ernest 2
Henry 2
Ralph 2
Stopford 2
Walter 2
Willett 2
Alfred 1
Aron 1
Cable 1
Charles 1
Christopher 1
Dick 1
Edmund 1
Fountain 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Gilbert 1
Hugh 1
Jam 1
Joseph 1
Melville 1
Mutsudda 1
Newey 1
Nixon 1
Percival 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Sidney 1
Simon 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Ram surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ram surname in 1881?

In 1881, 178 people were recorded with the Ram surname. That placed it at #13,840 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ram surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,259 in 2016. That gives Ram a modern rank of #2,876.

What does the Ram surname mean?

A surname of Hindi origin referring to a male deity, lord, or king.

What does the Ram map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ram bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.