Ramsy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Ramsy is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Ramsy family lived in Essex. Their name, however, is a reference to the Castle of Rames, at Bolbec, in the arrondissement of Havre, France, the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Richard de Ariete (Ram) was listed in Normandy temp. King John. 1

Early Origins of the Ramsy family

The surname Ramsy was first found in Essex where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Metinges. Roger de Rames was granted sixteen acres at Metinges, as well as land at Ramesdune under Robert Grenon. In Breseta in Suffolk, Roger de Rames was chief tenant. These lands were granted to Roger for his assistance at the Battle of Hastings by William, Duke of Normandy in his victory over King Harold.

Early History of the Ramsy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ramsy research. Another 99 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1564, 1599, 1605, 1615, 1634 and 1684 are included under the topic Early Ramsy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ramsy Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Ramm, Ram, Rams, Rame, Rames, Rammes and others.

Early Notables of the Ramsy family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Thomas Ram (1564-1634), English prelate, Bishop of Ferns and Leighlin, born at Windsor and educated at Eton and King's College, Cambridge. In...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ramsy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ramsy family to Ireland

Some of the Ramsy family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 53 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ramsy migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Ramsy or a variant listed above:

Ramsy Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

James Ramsy, who arrived in Virginia in 1654 2

The Ramsy 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: Quod tibi vis fieri, facias
Motto Translation: What you wish done, do yourself.

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)