NameCensus.

UK surname

Ramshaw

A locational surname originating from a place name in England, possibly from the Old English words "ram" and "sceaga" meaning a copse frequented by rams.

In the 1881 census there were 739 people recorded with the Ramshaw surname, ranking it #4,958 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,503, ranked #4,116, up from #4,958 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Beverley St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ramshaw is 1,549 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 103.4%.

1881 census count

739

Ranked #4,958

Modern count

1,503

2016, ranked #4,116

Peak year

2011

1,549 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ramshaw had 739 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,958 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,503 in 2016, ranked #4,116.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,166 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Ramshaw surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ramshaw surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ramshaw 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 443 #5,557
1861 historical 523 #5,015
1881 historical 739 #4,958
1891 historical 875 #4,702
1901 historical 1,019 #4,683
1911 historical 1,166 #4,008
1997 modern 1,484 #3,943
1998 modern 1,508 #4,024
1999 modern 1,526 #4,018
2000 modern 1,521 #4,015
2001 modern 1,498 #3,987
2002 modern 1,515 #4,039
2003 modern 1,443 #4,122
2004 modern 1,398 #4,229
2005 modern 1,385 #4,222
2006 modern 1,396 #4,202
2007 modern 1,416 #4,194
2008 modern 1,418 #4,218
2009 modern 1,470 #4,181
2010 modern 1,539 #4,109
2011 modern 1,549 #4,032
2012 modern 1,476 #4,144
2013 modern 1,498 #4,165
2014 modern 1,517 #4,140
2015 modern 1,509 #4,117
2016 modern 1,503 #4,116

Geography

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Where Ramshaws are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Beverley St Mary, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sunderland and County Durham. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Beverley St Mary Yorkshire, East Riding
4 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sunderland 033 Sunderland
2 Sunderland 034 Sunderland
3 County Durham 017 County Durham
4 Sunderland 032 Sunderland
5 Sunderland 035 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ramshaw

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ramshaw

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Ramshaw is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Ramshaw is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ramshaw 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 Ramshaw is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Ramshaw

The surname RAMSHAW has its origins in England, tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English words "ram" and "sceaga," meaning a small thicket or grove where rams grazed. The name is thought to have initially been a locational name, referring to a specific place where rams were raised or kept.

Early records of the name can be found in various historical documents, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 13th century, where the name appears as "Rammeshagh." This spelling variation suggests the name's connection to a specific location or area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the RAMSHAW surname dates back to 1379, when a John Ramshaw was mentioned in the Inquisitiones Post Mortem, a compilation of inquiries into the lands and tenures of deceased individuals in medieval England.

The RAMSHAW name has also been associated with various place names throughout history. For example, the village of Ramshaw in County Durham, England, is believed to have derived its name from the same Old English roots as the surname, further reinforcing the locational origin of the name.

Notable individuals with the RAMSHAW surname include Sir Thomas Ramshaw (1558-1623), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Northumberland in the early 17th century. Another prominent figure was John Ramshaw (1768-1850), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and was awarded the Naval General Service Medal for his service.

In the literary world, Elizabeth Ramshaw (1815-1888) was a British author and poet who published several works, including "The Poetry of Life" and "Legends of the West."

William Ramshaw (1828-1904) was an English engineer and inventor known for his contributions to the development of the Ramshaw Coupling, a device used in railway engineering to connect and secure rails.

Finally, John Ramshaw (1896-1972) was a British mathematician and academic who made significant contributions to the field of algebraic topology, particularly in the study of homotopy theory and fiber bundles.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the RAMSHAW surname throughout history, showcasing its enduring presence and the varied backgrounds and achievements associated with this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ramshaw families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ramshaw 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. Durham leads with 396 Ramshaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.46x.

County Total Index
Durham 396 18.46x
Northumberland 149 13.89x
Yorkshire 101 1.41x
Hampshire 28 1.90x
Lincolnshire 12 1.04x
Middlesex 8 0.11x
Staffordshire 8 0.33x
Lanarkshire 7 0.30x
Lancashire 7 0.08x
Cumberland 6 0.97x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.62x
Kent 3 0.12x
Surrey 3 0.09x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.44x
Stirlingshire 2 0.75x
Norfolk 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Lumley in Durham leads with 42 Ramshaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 1144.41x.

Place Total Index
Great Lumley 42 1144.41x
Bishopwearmouth 39 21.19x
Chirton 28 115.37x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 20 21.53x
Beverley St Mary 19 182.17x
Westoe 19 15.63x
Wingate 18 122.45x
Haswell 16 104.10x
Tudhoe 15 79.96x
Benwell 14 119.45x
Framwellgate 14 110.15x
Pittington 14 232.17x
Southampton St Mary 13 13.99x
Wallsend 13 38.21x
St Giles 12 89.62x
Tynemouth 11 19.15x
Brandon Byshottles 10 37.22x
Elswick 10 11.68x
Sharlston 10 213.22x
South Stoneham 10 31.20x
Throckley 10 337.84x
Kyo 9 89.20x
Stranton 9 12.47x
Witton Le Wear 9 148.03x
Cocken 8 597.01x
East Murton 8 199.50x
Gateshead 8 4.98x
Heddon On Wall 8 610.69x
Leeds 8 1.98x
Seaton Delaval 8 84.93x
Wednesbury 8 13.16x
Whitworth 8 50.96x
Great Grimsby 7 9.57x
Newfield 7 245.61x
Redcar 7 123.46x
Bedlington 6 16.76x
Church 6 49.67x
Coxhoe 6 98.52x
Coxlodge 6 73.53x
Heckmondwike 6 26.11x
Houghton Le Spring 6 40.46x
Kenton 6 389.61x
Liversedge 6 18.87x
Parton 6 163.93x
Trimdon 6 79.16x
Whitwood 6 59.11x
Barony 5 0.85x
Longbenton 5 11.01x
Middlestone 5 116.28x
Monk Hesleden 5 83.61x
Monkwearmouth Shore 5 11.94x
Sherburn 5 76.57x
Sunderland 5 13.20x
Birtley 4 45.71x
Byker 4 7.54x
Crook Billy Row 4 14.57x
Dawdon 4 15.16x
Dewsbury 4 5.46x
Harraton 4 95.69x
Hetton Le Hole 4 14.72x
Holy Trinity 4 2.33x
Holywell 4 72.46x
Lindrck W Studly Royl 4 1428.57x
Little Lumley 4 314.96x
Newcastle On Tyne St 4 7.19x
Ryton Woodside 4 149.81x
Crossgate 3 31.98x
Doncaster 3 5.75x
Halifax 3 2.86x
Lanchester 3 76.14x
North Shields 3 14.02x
Romsey Extra 3 34.13x
Seghill 3 57.03x
Sherburn House 3 625.00x
St Swithin Lincoln 3 16.56x
Tanfield 3 11.76x
Westminster St John 3 3.42x
East Kilbride 2 20.04x
Lee 2 5.60x
Stanghow 2 69.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 59
Elizabeth 45
Jane 26
Hannah 24
Margaret 24
Ann 23
Sarah 22
Isabella 14
Annie 9
Alice 6
Catherine 4
Emma 4
Ruth 4
Ada 3
Dorothy 3
Edith 3
Ellen 3
Isabell 3
Kate 3
Margt. 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Eliza 2
Elizth. 2
Esther 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Lilian 2
M. 2
Mabel 2
Martha 2
Minnie 2
Rachel 2
Susan 2
Amelia 1
Beatrice 1
Cicily 1
Clara 1
Ellanor 1
Ellenor 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Jessie 1
Laurie 1
Lily 1
Louis 1
Louisa 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 53
William 53
Thomas 39
Robert 37
George 27
Joseph 27
Henry 15
James 10
Edward 9
Richard 6
Anthony 5
Ernest 5
Frederick 5
Charles 4
Luke 4
Ralph 4
Walter 4
Wm. 4
Alexander 3
Andrew 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Jacob 2
Matthew 2
Samuel 2
Benjn. 1
C. 1
Chas. 1
Chas.Fredk. 1
Francis 1
G. 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Jeffrey 1
Jonas 1
Louis 1
Malvin 1
Mark 1
Marmaduke 1
Mavin 1
Melvin 1
Michael 1
Nicholas 1
Percy 1
Phillip 1
Pollard 1
Wm.Parkin 1

FAQ

Ramshaw surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ramshaw surname in 1881?

In 1881, 739 people were recorded with the Ramshaw surname. That placed it at #4,958 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ramshaw surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,503 in 2016. That gives Ramshaw a modern rank of #4,116.

What does the Ramshaw surname mean?

A locational surname originating from a place name in England, possibly from the Old English words "ram" and "sceaga" meaning a copse frequented by rams.

What does the Ramshaw map show?

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