Show ContentsRamage History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Ramage surname comes from the Middle English/Old French word "ramage," which meant "wild." It is thought to have originally been a nickname for an unpredictable or savage person, which later became a surname.

Early Origins of the Ramage family

The surname Ramage was first found in Peeblesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd nam Pùballan), former county in South-central Scotland, in the present day Scottish Borders Council Area, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Ramage family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ramage research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1304, 1555, 1567 and 1780 are included under the topic Early Ramage History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ramage Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Ramage, Ramadge, Ramaige and others.

Early Notables of the Ramage family

More information is included under the topic Early Ramage Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ramage Ranking

In the United States, the name Ramage is the 5,574th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Ramage is ranked the 6,591st most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 2


United States Ramage migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ramage Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Alexander Ramage and his wife Betty, who settled in Boston in 1765
Ramage Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Ramage, who was naturalized in New York in 1801
  • William Ramage, aged 40, who arrived in New York in 1801 3
  • Benjamin Ramage, who arrived in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1821 3
  • T Ramage, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1821 3
  • William Ramage, who arrived in New York in 1823
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Ramage Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Adam Luther Ramage, who landed in California in 1901 3

Canada Ramage migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ramage Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • John Ramage, who settled in Quebec in 1817

Australia Ramage migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Ramage Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Ramage, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in December 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4
  • Adam Ramage, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Glenswilly" in 1839 5
  • Robert Ramage, aged 26, a miner, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Medina" 6

New Zealand Ramage migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Ramage Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Miss Jane Ramage, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Strathfieldsaye" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 29th April 1858 7
  • Miss Eliza Ramage, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Three Bells" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 13th July 1858 7
  • Mr. Thomas Ramage, Scottish settler from Saline travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Storm Cloud" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 27th April 1860 7
  • Mrs. Ramage, Scottish settler from Saline with 3 sons and 3 daughters travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Storm Cloud" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 27th April 1860 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Ramage (post 1700) +

  • Rear Admiral James D. "Jig Dog" Ramage (b. 1916), American naval combat leader in World War II, instrumental in putting nuclear-capable aircraft aboard aircraft carriers
  • John Ramage (1748-1802), Irish-born, American artist
  • Lawson P "Red" Ramage (1909-1990), American Vice Admiral, Medal of Honor recipient, eponym of the destroyer USS Ramage (DDG-61) and Ramage Point, Antarctica
  • Samuel Y. III Ramage, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1940 8
  • Raymond Ramage, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Texas 7th District, 1962 8
  • Charles E. Ramage, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Montville; Elected 1930, 1932 8
  • George McIntosh Ramage (b. 1937), Scottish former footballer
  • Graeme Ramage (b. 1992), Scottish professional footballer
  • Henry Ramage VC (1827-1859), Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross
  • Crauford Tait Ramage (1803-1878), English miscellaneous writer, born at Annefield, near Newhaven
  • ... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Winter Quarters coal mine
  • Mr. Thomas John Ramage (b. 1875), Scottish mine worker from Lanarkshire residing in Scofield, Utah who worked in the Winter Quarters coal mine on 1st May 1900, when 10 of the 25lb kegs of black powder exploded; he died in the explosion 9


The Ramage Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Vitam impendere vero
Motto Translation: To risk one's life for the truth.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) GLENSWILLY 1839 (also called DAWSONS). Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Glenswilly.htm
  6. South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) MEDINA 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/medina1852.shtml
  7. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  8. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 24) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  9. Miners killed in Winter Quarters (retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from http://www.carbon-utgenweb.com/miners.html


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