UK surname
An occupational surname derived from the Old English phrase "ram's son", referring to a son of a man named Ram.
In the 1881 census there were 79 people recorded with the Ramson surname, ranking it #22,357 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 49, ranked #34,957, down from #22,357 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Toxteth Park and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ramson is 345 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 38.0%.
1881 census count
79
Ranked #22,357
Modern count
49
2016, ranked #34,957
Peak year
1861
345 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Ramson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Ramson surname density by area, 1911 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 | 93 | #17,946 |
| 1861 | historical | 345 | #7,398 |
| 1881 | historical | 79 | #22,357 |
| 1891 | historical | 175 | #16,467 |
| 1901 | historical | 83 | #24,900 |
| 1911 | historical | 143 | #18,401 |
| 1997 | modern | 39 | #33,759 |
| 1998 | modern | 43 | #33,557 |
| 1999 | modern | 40 | #33,967 |
| 2000 | modern | 35 | #34,420 |
| 2001 | modern | 32 | #34,537 |
| 2002 | modern | 31 | #34,866 |
| 2003 | modern | 36 | #34,522 |
| 2004 | modern | 35 | #34,783 |
| 2005 | modern | 40 | #34,562 |
| 2006 | modern | 44 | #34,568 |
| 2007 | modern | 44 | #34,760 |
| 2008 | modern | 43 | #34,931 |
| 2009 | modern | 44 | #35,028 |
| 2010 | modern | 46 | #35,062 |
| 2011 | modern | 46 | #35,047 |
| 2012 | modern | 46 | #35,053 |
| 2013 | modern | 43 | #35,271 |
| 2014 | modern | 48 | #35,041 |
| 2015 | modern | 49 | #34,946 |
| 2016 | modern | 49 | #34,957 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Toxteth Park, Manchester, Lambeth and Haughley. 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 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Haughley | Suffolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Ramson 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 Ramson, 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 Ramson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Ramson 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, Ramson 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 Ramson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Ramson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Ramson has its roots in England, emerging in the late medieval period around the 15th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "ramm" and "sunu," meaning "ram's son" or "son of the ram." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who either worked with rams or was known for their association with these animals.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379, where a William Ramson is mentioned. This document provides evidence of the name's existence in northern England during the late 14th century.
In the 16th century, the surname Ramson can be found in various historical records, such as parish registers and tax rolls. For example, in 1524, a John Ramson was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Derbyshire. Additionally, the name appears in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1576, with a mention of a Thomas Ramson.
Interestingly, the name Ramson seems to have been particularly prevalent in certain regions of England, such as Yorkshire and Derbyshire. This suggests that the name may have originated in these areas and later spread to other parts of the country.
One notable individual bearing the surname Ramson was Sir Thomas Ramson, a 17th-century English landowner and politician. Born in 1635, he served as a Member of Parliament for the county of Yorkshire from 1679 to 1681.
Another historical figure with the surname Ramson was Richard Ramson, a 16th-century clergyman and theologian. He was born in Yorkshire in 1535 and is known for his contributions to religious literature, including a treatise on the sacraments.
In the 18th century, the name Ramson can be found in various records, such as the Hearth Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1672, where a William Ramson is listed as a landowner.
Towards the end of the 18th century, a notable figure named John Ramson emerged as a prominent industrialist and entrepreneur. Born in Derbyshire in 1760, he played a significant role in the development of textile manufacturing in the region.
Lastly, in the 19th century, the surname Ramson continued to appear in various records, such as the Census of England and Wales from 1871, where several families with the name are documented.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ramson 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. Lancashire leads with 20 Ramsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.19x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 20 | 2.19x |
| Middlesex | 15 | 1.95x |
| Surrey | 10 | 2.66x |
| Durham | 8 | 3.49x |
| Kent | 8 | 3.04x |
| Derbyshire | 7 | 5.80x |
| Angus | 4 | 5.60x |
| Essex | 2 | 1.32x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 1.94x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.63x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.87x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 1.47x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 7 Ramsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.42x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lambeth | 7 | 10.42x |
| Matlock | 7 | 432.10x |
| Northfleet | 7 | 301.72x |
| West Derby | 7 | 26.18x |
| Chelsea London | 5 | 21.54x |
| Habergham Eaves | 5 | 59.81x |
| Tanfield | 5 | 183.15x |
| Clerkenwell London | 4 | 22.00x |
| Monifieth | 4 | 158.73x |
| Toxteth Park | 4 | 12.92x |
| Paddington London | 3 | 10.59x |
| Shadforth | 3 | 681.82x |
| Bermondsey | 2 | 8.72x |
| Cheetham | 2 | 29.33x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 2 | 4.82x |
| Hulme | 2 | 10.48x |
| Islington London | 2 | 2.68x |
| Romford | 2 | 83.33x |
| Croydon | 1 | 4.80x |
| North Shields | 1 | 43.67x |
| Plumstead | 1 | 11.42x |
| Poplar London | 1 | 6.88x |
| Portsea | 1 | 3.23x |
| Wilton | 1 | 208.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ramson 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 Ramson 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 Ramson households.
FAQ
In 1881, 79 people were recorded with the Ramson surname. That placed it at #22,357 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 49 in 2016. That gives Ramson a modern rank of #34,957.
An occupational surname derived from the Old English phrase "ram's son", referring to a son of a man named Ram.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ramson 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.