NameCensus.

UK surname

Ransom

A surname derived from an Old English word meaning "son of Rand," with Rand being a shortened form of Randolph.

In the 1881 census there were 1,619 people recorded with the Ransom surname, ranking it #2,637 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,825, ranked #3,473, down from #2,637 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rother, Blaenau Gwent and Kingston upon Hull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ransom is 2,202 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.7%.

1881 census count

1,619

Ranked #2,637

Modern count

1,825

2016, ranked #3,473

Peak year

1911

2,202 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ransom had 1,619 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,637 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,825 in 2016, ranked #3,473.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,202 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Ransom surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ransom surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ransom 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 1,059 #2,645
1861 historical 833 #3,311
1881 historical 1,619 #2,637
1891 historical 1,453 #3,016
1901 historical 2,102 #2,555
1911 historical 2,202 #2,287
1997 modern 1,900 #3,177
1998 modern 1,969 #3,195
1999 modern 1,970 #3,216
2000 modern 1,948 #3,229
2001 modern 1,905 #3,231
2002 modern 1,937 #3,254
2003 modern 1,854 #3,309
2004 modern 1,862 #3,295
2005 modern 1,817 #3,344
2006 modern 1,837 #3,315
2007 modern 1,832 #3,345
2008 modern 1,830 #3,386
2009 modern 1,883 #3,373
2010 modern 1,916 #3,393
2011 modern 1,910 #3,359
2012 modern 1,874 #3,364
2013 modern 1,906 #3,369
2014 modern 1,913 #3,379
2015 modern 1,860 #3,429
2016 modern 1,825 #3,473

Geography

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Where Ransoms are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes, St Pancras and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rother, Blaenau Gwent, Kingston upon Hull, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Stockton-on-Tees. 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 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rother 007 Rother
2 Blaenau Gwent 005 Blaenau Gwent
3 Kingston upon Hull 013 Kingston upon Hull, City of
4 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 002 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
5 Stockton-on-Tees 008 Stockton-on-Tees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ransom

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ransom

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Ransom surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Ransom household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Ransom is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ransom is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ransom falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ransom 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 Ransom, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ransom

The surname Ransom is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "ranson" meaning "ransom" or "redemption price." It emerged in the late 12th century and was likely initially given as a nickname or occupational name to someone who had paid a ransom or worked in securing the release of hostages or prisoners.

The earliest recorded use of the surname Ransom dates back to 1202 in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire, where it was spelled as "Raunsum." This document listed landowners and taxpayers of the time.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms such as "Raunson," "Rancun," and "Raunsom" in various county records and medieval manuscripts, indicating its widespread use across England.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Ransom was Richard Ransom, who lived in Buckinghamshire in the late 13th century. He was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of 1273-1275, a survey of landholders in England commissioned by King Edward I.

Another notable figure was John Ransom, a merchant from Bristol, England, who lived in the early 15th century. He was involved in the thriving wool trade and is recorded in various business transactions and guild records from that period.

In the 16th century, the surname Ransom was associated with several prominent individuals, including William Ransom (c. 1516-1580), a Protestant reformer and English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Chester.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Thomas Ransom (c. 1605-1667) was a notable figure. He was a member of the Long Parliament and a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause against King Charles I.

Another individual of note was Robert Ransom (c. 1630-1690), an English navigator and explorer who led several expeditions to the Arctic regions in search of a Northwest Passage.

The surname Ransom has also been associated with various place names, such as Ransom in Buckinghamshire and Ransome in Norfolk, both of which likely derived from the surname itself.

Overall, the surname Ransom has a rich history dating back to medieval times, with its origins rooted in the concept of redemption and ransom payments, reflecting the occupations and activities of its early bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ransom families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ransom 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 253 Ransoms recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.60x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 253 1.60x
Sussex 232 8.70x
Surrey 161 2.09x
Yorkshire 136 0.87x
Suffolk 115 5.97x
Hampshire 105 3.24x
Kent 103 1.91x
Norfolk 87 3.58x
Essex 68 2.18x
Cambridgeshire 55 5.49x
Wiltshire 47 3.36x
Lancashire 35 0.19x
Lincolnshire 29 1.15x
Hertfordshire 22 2.02x
Northumberland 19 0.81x
Bedfordshire 16 1.95x
Gloucestershire 16 0.52x
Berkshire 14 1.18x
Somerset 14 0.55x
Staffordshire 13 0.24x
Durham 12 0.26x
Cornwall 10 0.56x
Dorset 10 0.96x
Huntingdonshire 7 2.23x
Warwickshire 7 0.18x
Worcestershire 7 0.34x
Monmouthshire 6 0.52x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.23x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.42x
Glamorgan 4 0.15x
Devon 2 0.06x
Herefordshire 1 0.15x
Leicestershire 1 0.06x
Midlothian 1 0.05x
Royal Navy 1 0.53x
Rutland 1 0.86x
Shropshire 1 0.07x
Stirlingshire 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 50 Ransoms recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.95x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 50 4.95x
Lambeth 38 2.76x
West Ham 31 4.50x
Catsfield 30 783.29x
Islington London 27 1.76x
Hastings St Mary In The 24 42.19x
Hastings St Mary 23 34.66x
Millbrook 22 26.95x
St Pancras London 22 1.73x
Bury St Edmunds St James 20 38.88x
Wells Next Sea 20 141.04x
Paddington London 19 3.27x
Brighton 17 3.16x
Great Yarmouth 17 8.44x
Hackney London 15 1.69x
St Marylebone London 15 1.78x
Enfield 14 13.49x
St George Hanover 14 6.78x
Warminster 14 45.69x
Aldershot 13 11.97x
Bexhill 13 97.82x
Bramdean 13 915.49x
Cowlinge 13 353.26x
Crowhurst 13 570.18x
Hitchin 13 26.42x
Longbenton 13 13.05x
Southwark St Saviour 13 16.00x
Chelsea London 12 2.52x
Hastings St Leonards 12 30.62x
Holy Trinity 12 3.18x
Reading St Giles 12 10.30x
Wolverhampton 12 2.92x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 11 30.43x
Frittenden 11 218.69x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 11 15.07x
North Dalton 11 416.67x
Scawton 11 1549.30x
Stapleford 11 363.04x
Great Stanmore 10 140.85x
Walcot 10 7.38x
Bromley London 9 2.59x
Croydon 9 2.10x
Limehouse London 9 5.18x
Littlehampton 9 42.29x
Portsmouth 9 12.06x
Sculcoates 9 3.62x
St Andrewthe Less 9 7.87x
Wandsworth 9 5.91x
Dogmersfield 8 503.14x
Great Coggeshall 8 49.29x
Hastings All Sts 8 31.85x
Ipswich St Peter 8 30.85x
Kempston 8 43.03x
Northiam 8 122.32x
Plumstead 8 4.45x
Shoreditch London 8 1.17x
Southampton St Mary 8 3.93x
St Anne Soho London 8 8.86x
Stoke Newington London 8 6.50x
Sudbury All Sts 8 136.29x
Sutton Stoneferry 8 17.85x
Aston 7 0.64x
Barnes 7 21.49x
Bedford St Paul 7 12.46x
Beswick 7 522.39x
Bethnal Green London 7 1.02x
Chedburgh 7 510.95x
Corpusty 7 341.46x
Hollington 7 73.76x
Lawshall 7 162.04x
Padiham 7 15.44x
South Lynn 7 25.51x
Battle 6 33.35x
Chapel Allerton 6 25.59x
Devizes St John 6 57.14x
Farnham 6 10.02x
Hertford St Andrew 6 44.58x
Kirkby La Thorpe 6 431.65x
Manningtree 6 118.11x
Spittlegate 6 17.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 93
Elizabeth 49
Sarah 44
Eliza 34
Ellen 29
Jane 29
Emma 24
Ann 22
Alice 21
Annie 21
Charlotte 21
Emily 21
Kate 20
Louisa 16
Maria 16
Hannah 15
Caroline 14
Fanny 14
Harriet 12
Ada 9
Catherine 9
Edith 9
Harriett 9
Anne 8
Julia 8
Rose 8
Agnes 7
Amelia 7
Clara 7
Martha 7
Susan 7
Susannah 7
Eleanor 6
Florence 6
Jessie 6
Sophia 6
Esther 5
Lilly 5
Margaret 5
Susanna 5
Amy 4
Elizth. 4
Frances 4
Lilian 4
Minnie 4
Ruth 4
Christiana 3
Eva 3
Maud 3
Nellie 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 109
George 74
John 62
James 41
Thomas 38
Charles 34
Henry 32
Edward 27
Arthur 22
Albert 19
Alfred 19
Harry 17
Robert 17
Joseph 15
Walter 15
Ernest 13
Frederick 13
Herbert 12
Richard 12
Isaac 9
Samuel 9
Edwin 8
Frank 8
Wm. 8
David 6
Fredk. 5
Fredrick 5
Geo. 5
Francis 4
Horace 4
Thos. 4
Ambrose 3
Andrew 3
Dennis 3
Percy 3
Peter 3
Sidney 3
Stephen 3
Benjamin 2
Elijah 2
Fred 2
Frederic 2
Gooch 2
Luke 2
Mark 2
Robt. 2
Tom 2
W. 2
Burgess 1
Burt 1

FAQ

Ransom surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ransom surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,619 people were recorded with the Ransom surname. That placed it at #2,637 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ransom surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,825 in 2016. That gives Ransom a modern rank of #3,473.

What does the Ransom surname mean?

A surname derived from an Old English word meaning "son of Rand," with Rand being a shortened form of Randolph.

What does the Ransom map show?

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