Ringewode History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Ringewode is one of the thousands of new names that the Norman Conquest brought to England in 1066. The Ringewode family 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 Ringewode family

The surname Ringewode 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 Ringewode family

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

Ringewode Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Ringwood, Ringewood, Ringwode and others.

Early Notables of the Ringewode family

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

Migration of the Ringewode family to Ireland

Some of the Ringewode 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 Ringewode family

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Ringewode or a variant listed above: Robert Ringwood who landed in North America in 1753.