UK surname
A surname derived from the French word "rame", meaning branch or bough.
In the 1881 census there were 38 people recorded with the Rame surname, ranking it #28,285 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #28,285 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Manfield, St Luke and Auckland St Andrew (North Bedburn), Witton-le-Wear. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rame is 102 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 97.4%.
1881 census count
38
Ranked #28,285
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1891
102 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rame surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rame surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 15 | #30,614 |
| 1861 | historical | 55 | #27,007 |
| 1881 | historical | 38 | #28,285 |
| 1891 | historical | 102 | #23,719 |
| 1901 | historical | 29 | #30,848 |
| 1911 | historical | 12 | #32,302 |
| 1997 | modern | 6 | #37,704 |
| 1998 | modern | 6 | #37,703 |
| 1999 | modern | 9 | #37,217 |
| 2000 | modern | 5 | #37,823 |
| 2001 | modern | 5 | #37,652 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 4 | #37,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 4 | #38,013 |
| 2005 | modern | 4 | #38,078 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 3 | #38,396 |
| 2009 | modern | 2 | #38,725 |
| 2010 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2011 | modern | 1 | #39,015 |
| 2015 | modern | 1 | #39,021 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Manfield, St Luke, Auckland St Andrew (North Bedburn), Witton-le-Wear, St Mary Islington and Gainford (Barnard Castle, Marwood), Staindrop (Langley Dale), Middleton-in-Teesdale (Egglestone). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manfield | Durham |
| 2 | St Luke | London (Central Districts) |
| 3 | Auckland St Andrew (North Bedburn), Witton-le-Wear | Durham |
| 4 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Gainford (Barnard Castle, Marwood), Staindrop (Langley Dale), Middleton-in-Teesdale (Egglestone) | Durham |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rame surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rame, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Rame surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rame household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Rame is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rame is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rame, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname RAME originated in England during the medieval period, likely derived from the Old English word "ram," which referred to a male sheep or ram. It is believed to have initially been an occupational surname for someone who raised or tended to rams, a common practice in rural areas where wool production was an important industry.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the RAME surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Ramus" in several counties, suggesting its widespread use at the time.
In the 13th century, records show the surname in various spellings, such as "Ramme," "Rammys," and "Rammys." These variations reflect the phonetic transcription of the name during that era.
The RAME surname is also linked to several place names in England, such as Ramshope in Northumberland and Ramridge in Essex. These locations likely derived their names from individuals bearing the RAME surname who lived or owned land there.
Notable individuals with the RAME surname throughout history include:
1. John Rame (c. 1500-1560), an English Protestant reformer and author during the reign of Queen Mary I. 2. Samuel Rame (1610-1679), a English merchant and politician who served as an alderman in the City of London. 3. William Rame (1735-1819), a British naval officer who participated in the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. 4. Elizabeth Rame (1792-1872), a British writer and activist who advocated for women's rights and education. 5. Thomas Rame (1856-1934), a Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded the Rame Lumber Company in Ontario.
While the RAME surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand, through immigration and migration patterns over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rame surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 12 Rames recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.24x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. North Bedburn in Durham leads with 8 Rames recorded in 1881 and an index of 2580.65x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| North Bedburn | 8 | 2580.65x |
| Abbey | 7 | 159.82x |
| Hailsham | 7 | 1842.11x |
| St Sepulchre London | 6 | 1111.11x |
| Islington London | 4 | 11.14x |
| Falsgrave | 2 | 370.37x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 5.06x |
| Stranton | 1 | 26.95x |
| Truro | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 26.25x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rame surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Rame surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Rame households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 7 |
| Labourer Coke Ovens | 3 |
| Watch Escapement Maker | 2 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Coke Manufacture | 1 |
| Cook & Steward | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Gardener (ND) | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Postman | 1 |
| Retired Tailor & Outfitter | 1 |
| Steam Thrasher | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 38 people were recorded with the Rame surname. That placed it at #28,285 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Rame a modern rank of #39,061.
A surname derived from the French word "rame", meaning branch or bough.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rame bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.