Ratner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Wales

Early Origins of the Ratner family

The surname Ratner was first found in Radnorshire (Welsh: Sir Faesyfed), a former historic county of mid-Wales, anciently part of the kingdom of Powys, where they held a family seat. 1 2

The Celtic resistance north and south along the border of Wales and England was considerably increased after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The Normans met more resistance from the Welsh than in the rest of England.

The Welsh fought from behind their hills and mountains and tenaciously held their ground. Finally, Edward 1st, to placate this founding nation, conferred the principality of Wales upon his eldest son, who became Edward II. This brought Wales into England as an equal while the King was alive, and integral part of the royal title when on the throne. Edward III confirmed and all Princes of Wales were presented to the Welsh people at Caernarvon Castle. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Welsh surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the year 1193 when John Radenoura held estates in Radnor and Herefordshire. 3 They were allied by marriage to the Ap Reese of Washingly.

Early History of the Ratner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ratner research. Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1255, 1260, 1398, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Ratner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ratner Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Ridenour, Ridener, Ridner, Radnor, Radnall, Redinhale, Radner, Radmall and many more.

Early Notables of the Ratner family

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

Ratner Ranking

In the United States, the name Ratner is the 14,501^st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Ratner family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: settlers who were recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands. A colony of Welsh gathered in Pennsylvania..

Contemporary Notables of the name Ratner (post 1700) +

Gerald Irving Ratner (b. 1949), British businessman, former chief executive officer of the major British jewellery company Ratners Group (now the Signet Group)
Brett Ratner (b. 1969), American film director and producer who directed the Rush Hour film series, The Family Man, Red Dragon, X-Men: The Last Stand, and Tower Heist, co-founder of RatPac Entertainment whose films have won 25 Academy Awards, 8 Golden Globes and 24 BAFTAs
Joann Ratner (1931-2023), known as Joanna Merlin, is an American actress and casting director who starred in the original Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof
Payne Harry Ratner (1896-1974), American lawyer and politician, 28th Governor of Kansas from 1939 to 1943
Marc Ratner, American entrepreneur and current Vice President of Regulatory Affairs with the Ultimate Fighting Championship
Leonard Lee Ratner (1918-2000), American businessman who built his fortune through mail order sales, founder of d-CON rat poison company, grandfather of Brett Ratner
Bruce Ratner (b. 1945), American philanthropist, real estate developer, and former minority owner of the NBA's Brooklyn Nets
Ely Stefansky Ratner (b. 1977), American foreign policy and defense advisor, current Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs in the Biden administration
William Gerald Ratner (b. 1947), American voice actor, author and solo performance artist, best known as the voice of Flint in Hasbro's syndicated TV cartoon G.I. Joe
Michael Ratner (1943-2016), American attorney, President Emeritus of the Center for Constitutional Rights, co-counsel for the Guantanamo Bay detainees
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/