Ringewod History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The vast movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066 brought the Ringewod family name to the British Isles. They lived at Ringwood, in Hampshire. Since in Old English the word hring meant both circle and boundary, it is thought that the name of this place indicated was a reference to the edge of a forest.

Early Origins of the Ringewod family

The surname Ringewod was first found in Hampshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Ringwood. At the time of the taking of the Domesday Book in the year 1086, a survey of England initiated by Duke William of Normandy after his Conquest of England at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D., Ringwood was held as King's land and the holder is not named. As was the Norman custom the second son of the Norman holder of the land assumed the name of the Manor and village. In 1086, the village held two mills.

Early History of the Ringewod family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ringewod research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1685 is included under the topic Early Ringewod History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ringewod Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Ringwood, Ringewood, Ringwode and others.

Early Notables of the Ringewod family

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

Migration of the Ringewod family to Ireland

Some of the Ringewod family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ringewod family

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Ringewod or a variant listed above: Robert Ringwood who landed in North America in 1753.