Show ContentsRansbottom History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Ransbottom name come from when the Anglo-Saxon tribes ruled over Britain. The name Ransbottom was originally derived from a family having lived in the region of Romsbottom in the county of Lancashire. Ransbottom is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Ransbottom family

The surname Ransbottom was first found in Lancashire in the parish of Bury at Romsbottom (now known as Ramsbottom). Today it is a market town in Greater Manchester but anciently the town was known as Romesbothum in 1324. 1 Literally the place name means "valley of the ream, or where wild garlic grows from the Old English "ramm" or "hramsa" + "bothm." 1

Early History of the Ransbottom family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ransbottom research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ransbottom History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ransbottom Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Ransbottom include Ramsbottom, Ramsbotham, Rasbottom and others.

Early Notables of the Ransbottom family

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

Migration of the Ransbottom family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: Joseph, Mark and Thomas Ramsbottom arrived in Philadelphia between 1856 and 1868; John Ramsbotten settled in Virginia in 1698.


Contemporary Notables of the name Ransbottom (post 1700) +

  • Frank M. Ransbottom, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Ohio, 1924, 1936; Presidential Elector for Ohio, 1928 2


The Ransbottom 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: Non vi, sed virtute
Motto Translation: Not by force, but by virtue


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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