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| Origins Available: |
| | England |
When the ancestors of the Ramenel family emigrated to England following the Norman Conquest in 1066 they brought their family name with them. They lived in Kent, at New Romney, or Old Romney parishes and locals that date back to at least the Domesday Book where they were collectively known as Romenel. 1 In fact, Old Romney may be older: "The town had a good and much frequented haven prior to the Conquest; but in the reign of Edward III. " 2
The surname Ramenel was first found in Kent where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Romney, anciently Romenel. "[New Romney], the name of which is probably derived from the Saxon Rumen-ea, "a large watery expanse, or marsh," arose from the decay of Old Romney. At the time of the Conquest it was a town of considerable importance, divided into twelve wards, and containing five parochial churches." 2 At the time of the taking of the Domesday Book, 1 a survey of England initiated by Duke William of Normandy after his conquest of England, the village of Romney was held by a Norman noble, Robert de Romenel, de Rumenae and as was the Norman custom, the second son of the family adopted the name of the village. 3
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ramenel research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1500, 1593, 1601 and 1603 are included under the topic Early Ramenel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Ramenel has been recorded under many different variations, including Rumney, Rumnie, Romney, Romny, Romenel, Rumenel, Romnay and many more.
More information is included under the topic Early Ramenel Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Ramenels were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America: Thomas Romney who settled in Virginia in 1635; John Romney settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1767; George Rumney settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1766.