NameCensus.

UK surname

Ramage

A French occupational surname for a person who made oars or sold branches.

In the 1881 census there were 1,688 people recorded with the Ramage surname, ranking it #2,545 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,579, ranked #2,570, down from #2,545 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Alloa, London parishes and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Douglas, Coalburn and Rigside, Larkhall Central, Raploch, Millheugh and Burnhead and IZ16.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ramage is 2,600 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.8%.

1881 census count

1,688

Ranked #2,545

Modern count

2,579

2016, ranked #2,570

Peak year

2010

2,600 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ramage had 1,688 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,545 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,579 in 2016, ranked #2,570.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,149 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Ramage surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ramage surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ramage 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 1,182 #2,399
1861 historical 1,244 #2,290
1881 historical 1,688 #2,545
1891 historical 1,790 #2,559
1901 historical 2,149 #2,506
1911 historical 576 #7,056
1997 modern 2,394 #2,614
1998 modern 2,514 #2,601
1999 modern 2,524 #2,611
2000 modern 2,524 #2,594
2001 modern 2,448 #2,608
2002 modern 2,497 #2,620
2003 modern 2,438 #2,619
2004 modern 2,463 #2,604
2005 modern 2,452 #2,579
2006 modern 2,441 #2,596
2007 modern 2,440 #2,618
2008 modern 2,458 #2,623
2009 modern 2,560 #2,589
2010 modern 2,600 #2,606
2011 modern 2,577 #2,600
2012 modern 2,493 #2,625
2013 modern 2,546 #2,627
2014 modern 2,582 #2,602
2015 modern 2,578 #2,581
2016 modern 2,579 #2,570

Geography

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Where Ramages are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Alloa, London parishes, Govan Combination, Sorn and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Douglas, Coalburn and Rigside, Larkhall Central, Raploch, Millheugh and Burnhead, IZ16, Alva and Hareleeshill. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Alloa Clackmannan
2 London parishes London 3
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Sorn Ayr
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Douglas, Coalburn and Rigside South Lanarkshire
2 Larkhall Central, Raploch, Millheugh and Burnhead South Lanarkshire
3 IZ16 East Lothian
4 Alva Clackmannanshire
5 Hareleeshill South Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ramage

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ramage

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ramage, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Ramage surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Ramage household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Ramage is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ramage is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ramage falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ramage is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Ramage

The surname Ramage is believed to have originated in Scotland, likely emerging during the 12th or 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "ramage," which referred to the branches or foliage of a tree. This connection suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname for someone who lived near a notable tree or wooded area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which document Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "Ramage" in these records, indicating its established usage by the late 13th century.

In the 15th century, the name Ramage was associated with the lands of Banff in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. A notable figure from this era was George Ramage, who was appointed as the keeper of the Royal Park of Huntly in 1456.

Throughout the centuries, the name Ramage has been spelled in various ways, including Ramadge, Ramadge, and Rammage. Some of these variations likely stemmed from regional dialects or differences in pronunciation.

The Ramage family has produced several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was John Ramage (1633-1695), a Scottish mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

Another prominent individual was Sir Adam Ramage (1672-1753), a Scottish merchant and Lord Provost of Edinburgh. He played a crucial role in the city's economic development and was instrumental in establishing the Royal Bank of Scotland.

In the literary realm, Allan Ramage (1776-1826) was a Scottish poet and songwriter, known for his works celebrating Scottish culture and traditions.

Moving to more recent times, Sir Bertram Ramage (1887-1963) was a British naval officer who served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Navy's Mediterranean Fleet during World War II.

Another notable figure was David Ramage (1856-1920), a Scottish-born Australian politician and businessman who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia.

While the surname Ramage has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including England, Ireland, and beyond, as a result of migration and historical events.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ramage families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ramage 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. Midlothian leads with 423 Ramages recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.23x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 423 19.23x
Lanarkshire 314 5.91x
Ayrshire 139 11.31x
Fife 129 13.27x
Stirlingshire 80 13.21x
Clackmannanshire 65 47.94x
Durham 65 1.33x
Surrey 57 0.71x
Lancashire 47 0.24x
Middlesex 45 0.27x
East Lothian 42 19.31x
Kent 30 0.54x
Berwickshire 29 14.59x
Northumberland 24 0.98x
Renfrewshire 20 1.57x
West Lothian 18 7.28x
Aberdeenshire 16 1.05x
Cheshire 16 0.44x
Roxburghshire 16 5.38x
Angus 13 0.85x
Perthshire 13 1.76x
Hampshire 12 0.36x
Selkirkshire 12 8.08x
Kirkcudbrightshire 7 2.95x
Yorkshire 7 0.04x
Dumfriesshire 6 1.65x
Lincolnshire 6 0.23x
Buckinghamshire 5 0.50x
Cumberland 4 0.28x
Inverness-shire 4 0.82x
Peeblesshire 4 5.18x
Herefordshire 3 0.45x
Buteshire 2 2.01x
Norfolk 2 0.08x
Royal Navy 2 1.02x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.23x
Essex 1 0.03x
Gloucestershire 1 0.03x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.31x
Kinross-shire 1 2.41x
Ross-shire 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 127 Ramages recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.35x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 127 14.35x
Dunfermline 68 45.50x
Govan 52 3.96x
Alloa 45 68.44x
Douglas 43 280.86x
Barony 32 2.38x
Glasgow 32 3.39x
Alva 29 100.42x
Lasswade 29 57.67x
Newbattle 29 154.26x
South Leith 27 10.91x
Sorn 25 103.56x
Westruther 25 659.63x
Beath 24 78.15x
Lambeth 24 1.68x
New Monkland 24 15.29x
North Leith 22 21.62x
Hamilton 21 14.18x
Whitworth 21 58.72x
Penicuik 20 66.91x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 18 34.60x
Edinburgh Canongate 18 32.16x
Galston 18 53.57x
Bothkennar 16 88.54x
Dalserf 16 30.20x
Lesmahagow 16 28.50x
St Ninians 16 26.66x
Berwick North 15 98.49x
Cramond 15 89.98x
Falkirk 15 10.58x
Broughton In Salford 14 7.86x
Lanark 14 32.77x
West Greenock 14 6.13x
Clackmannan 13 50.72x
Duddingston 13 29.45x
Monks Coppenhall 13 9.51x
Riccarton Hurlford 13 60.32x
Liberton 12 35.35x
Mauchline 12 84.99x
Aberdeen Old Machar 11 3.47x
Inveresk 11 18.47x
Kilconquhar 11 95.07x
Carluke 10 20.74x
Dailly 10 79.81x
Deptford St Paul 10 2.31x
Ednam 10 288.18x
Haddington 10 31.15x
Loudoun 10 33.84x
Mid Calder 10 104.93x
Monkwearmouth Shore 10 10.49x
Gillingham 9 7.79x
Kearsley 9 21.96x
Kilmarnock 9 6.15x
Kingston On Thames 9 4.68x
Bothwell 8 5.56x
Bromley London 8 2.21x
Carriden 8 71.36x
Collessie 8 71.49x
Dalkeith 8 18.44x
Galashiels 8 14.57x
Manchester 8 0.91x
Newington 8 1.32x
St Quivox 8 19.26x
Temple 8 91.53x
Ayr 7 12.07x
Cambusnethan 7 5.94x
Carnwath 7 21.32x
Carstairs 7 63.64x
Edinburgh Greenside S 7 87.83x
Longbenton 7 6.77x
Poplar London 7 2.26x
Wiston Robertson 7 220.13x
Brandon Byshottles 6 9.81x
Colinton 6 24.47x
Dundee 6 1.06x
Glencorse 6 71.01x
Kilwinning 6 15.12x
Lecropt 6 173.91x
St Swithin Lincoln 6 14.54x
Waldridge 6 73.35x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 19
James 14
William 12
Robert 10
Thomas 8
George 6
Joseph 6
Charles 5
Henry 5
Andrew 4
Arthur 4
Christopher 4
Edgar 3
J. 3
Peter 3
Albert 2
Archibald 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Geo. 2
Hugh 2
Jno. 2
Laurance 2
Robt. 2
Walter 2
Alexander 1
Chas. 1
Chas.Hy.C. 1
Colin 1
David 1
Douglas 1
Francis 1
Hopton 1
Horace 1
Jas.Walter 1
Laurence 1
Leonard 1
Mathew 1
Neil 1
Norman 1
Oliver 1
Percy 1
Phillip 1
Prescott 1
Ralph 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Seth 1
Sidney 1
Wm.K. 1

FAQ

Ramage surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ramage surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,688 people were recorded with the Ramage surname. That placed it at #2,545 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ramage surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,579 in 2016. That gives Ramage a modern rank of #2,570.

What does the Ramage surname mean?

A French occupational surname for a person who made oars or sold branches.

What does the Ramage map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ramage 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.