NameCensus.

UK surname

Ronaldson

A patronymic surname derived from the given name Ronald.

In the 1881 census there were 443 people recorded with the Ronaldson surname, ranking it #7,395 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 545, ranked #9,349, down from #7,395 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wick, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caithness North East, Clermiston and Drumbrae and Paisley Ferguslie.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ronaldson is 559 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.0%.

1881 census count

443

Ranked #7,395

Modern count

545

2016, ranked #9,349

Peak year

2000

559 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ronaldson had 443 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,395 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 545 in 2016, ranked #9,349.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 538 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Ronaldson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ronaldson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ronaldson 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 345 #6,823
1861 historical 393 #6,524
1881 historical 443 #7,395
1891 historical 461 #7,937
1901 historical 538 #7,640
1911 historical 151 #17,797
1997 modern 469 #9,759
1998 modern 513 #9,404
1999 modern 539 #9,116
2000 modern 559 #8,829
2001 modern 525 #9,128
2002 modern 558 #8,876
2003 modern 514 #9,299
2004 modern 535 #9,041
2005 modern 516 #9,236
2006 modern 532 #9,053
2007 modern 519 #9,300
2008 modern 519 #9,372
2009 modern 532 #9,402
2010 modern 554 #9,312
2011 modern 535 #9,480
2012 modern 535 #9,375
2013 modern 546 #9,392
2014 modern 550 #9,395
2015 modern 545 #9,387
2016 modern 545 #9,349

Geography

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Where Ronaldsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wick, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Fyvie and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caithness North East, Clermiston and Drumbrae, Paisley Ferguslie, Kettle and Ladybank and Caithness South. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Wick Caithness
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Fyvie Aberdeen
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caithness North East Highland
2 Clermiston and Drumbrae City of Edinburgh
3 Paisley Ferguslie Renfrewshire
4 Kettle and Ladybank Fife
5 Caithness South Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ronaldson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ronaldson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ronaldson, 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 Ronaldson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Ronaldson 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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Ronaldson is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ronaldson 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

Ronaldson 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 Ronaldson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Ronaldson

The surname RONALDSON is of Scottish origin, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is a patronymic name derived from the personal name Ronald, which itself is a combination of the Old Norse elements "ráðn" meaning counsel or advice, and "valdr" meaning ruler or commander.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname RONALDSON can be found in medieval Scottish records, often spelled as Ronaldsone or Ronaldsoune. It is believed that the name originated in the lowlands of Scotland, particularly around the areas of Berwickshire and Roxburghshire.

One of the earliest documented references to the name is found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a record of Scottish nobles and landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The entry "Thomas Ronaldesone de Roxburgshire" is listed among the signatories.

Another notable early bearer of the name was Sir John Ronaldson, a Scottish knight who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century. He was granted lands in Ayrshire for his service.

As the RONALDSON name spread throughout Scotland, it also took on various localized spellings, such as Ronaldsoune, Ronaldsoun, and Ronaldsoun. Some of these variations may have been influenced by regional dialects or local place names.

One prominent RONALDSON in the 16th century was William Ronaldson (c. 1505-1577), a Scottish clergyman who served as the Bishop of Dunkeld from 1556 to 1577. He played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation and was a supporter of the Protestant cause.

Another notable figure with the surname RONALDSON was James Ronaldson (1742-1793), a Scottish poet and dramatist who was part of the literary circle in Edinburgh during the Scottish Enlightenment. His works include the play "The Lovers" and several volumes of poetry.

In the 19th century, James Ronaldson (1807-1887) was a Scottish architect who designed several notable buildings in Edinburgh, including the Royal Scottish Academy and the City Observatory.

While the RONALDSON surname is predominantly Scottish, it has also been found in other parts of the United Kingdom and has spread to various parts of the world through migration and diaspora.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ronaldson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ronaldson 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 114 Ronaldsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.78x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 114 19.78x
Fife 51 20.03x
Lanarkshire 50 3.59x
Caithness 34 57.73x
Northumberland 25 3.91x
Middlesex 23 0.53x
Kent 18 1.23x
Aberdeenshire 16 4.02x
East Lothian 13 22.82x
Surrey 13 0.62x
Berwickshire 10 19.20x
Perthshire 10 5.18x
Argyllshire 8 6.68x
Roxburghshire 8 10.27x
Durham 7 0.55x
Lancashire 7 0.14x
Angus 5 1.25x
Sutherland 5 15.11x
Dunbartonshire 4 3.46x
West Lothian 4 6.17x
Suffolk 3 0.57x
Ayrshire 2 0.62x
Berkshire 2 0.62x
Glamorgan 2 0.27x
Kincardineshire 2 3.82x
Kinross-shire 2 18.40x
Essex 1 0.12x
Inverness-shire 1 0.78x
Nottinghamshire 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. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 53 Ronaldsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.86x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 53 22.86x
Wick 25 131.44x
Govan 24 6.98x
Tweedmouth 22 275.69x
Kinglassie 13 670.10x
Barony 12 3.41x
South Leith 12 18.50x
Beckenham 11 57.32x
Auchterderran 10 156.25x
Arngask 8 987.65x
Edinburgh St Andrews 8 168.07x
Glasgow 8 3.24x
Inveresk 8 51.28x
Nenthorn 8 1194.03x
Fyvie 7 107.69x
Kensington London 7 2.93x
Liberton 7 78.65x
Monimail 7 560.00x
Toxteth Park 7 4.05x
Currie 6 169.97x
Glenmuick Tullich 6 209.06x
Latheron 6 60.91x
St George Hanover 6 10.69x
Dalziel 5 33.40x
Dundee 5 3.36x
Forgandenny 5 543.48x
Kildonan 5 174.83x
Kinghorn 5 92.42x
Ratho 5 185.87x
Athelstaneford 4 357.14x
Carshalton 4 49.88x
Croydon 4 3.44x
Hawick 4 22.94x
Kilninian Kilmore 4 108.99x
Lanchester 4 170.21x
Whitburn 4 42.74x
Wilton 4 46.78x
Burntisland 3 42.13x
Cardross 3 21.61x
Cramond 3 68.65x
Edinburgh Canongate 3 20.45x
Edinburgh Tolbooth 3 89.55x
Milton In Gravesend 3 13.63x
Newington 3 1.89x
Prestonkirk 3 105.26x
Aberdour 2 77.82x
Banchory Devenick 2 40.90x
Barnes 2 22.57x
Dunbarney 2 180.18x
Dunnet 2 84.39x
Erith 2 13.83x
Gateshead 2 2.09x
Glassary 2 31.01x
Hackney London 2 0.83x
Haddington 2 23.78x
Howick 2 434.78x
Kinnoull 2 39.37x
Little Welnetham 2 869.57x
Poplar London 2 2.46x
Portmoak 2 129.03x
St George Bloomsbury 2 8.10x
Udny 2 82.99x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 1.20x
Ardersier 1 32.47x
Berwick North 1 25.06x
Cockburnspath 1 59.88x
Coll 1 104.17x
Dunse 1 20.24x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 8.36x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 1.80x
Islington London 1 0.24x
Kilfinichen 1 33.78x
Kilmarnock 1 2.61x
Kilrenny 1 21.23x
Newbattle 1 20.28x
Penicuik 1 12.77x
Perth East Church 1 5.49x
St Pancras London 1 0.29x
Stoke Newington London 1 2.98x
Whitekirk Tynninghame 1 64.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Isabella 4
Ann 3
Elizabeth 3
Jane 3
Margaret 3
Eliza 2
Evelyn 2
Frances 2
Ada 1
Annie 1
Catherine 1
Effeline 1
Ethel 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Helga 1
Henrietta 1
Isabel 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
Lillias 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
May 1
Rina 1
Silian 1
Susan 1
T. 1
Violet 1
Wilhelmina 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 11
George 8
James 7
William 5
Alexander 2
Allan 2
Charles 2
Thomas 2
Walter 2
A. 1
Andraw 1
Arthur 1
Frank 1
Henry 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1
Stuart 1

FAQ

Ronaldson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ronaldson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 443 people were recorded with the Ronaldson surname. That placed it at #7,395 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ronaldson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 545 in 2016. That gives Ronaldson a modern rank of #9,349.

What does the Ronaldson surname mean?

A patronymic surname derived from the given name Ronald.

What does the Ronaldson map show?

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