Ramsey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Ramsey

What does the name Ramsey mean?

The name Ramsey arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Ramsey 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 Ramsey family

The surname Ramsey 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 Ramsey family

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

Ramsey 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 Ramm, Ram, Rams, Rame, Rames, Rammes and others.

Early Notables of the Ramsey family

Thomas Ram (1564-1634), English prelate, Bishop of Ferns and Leighlin, born at Windsor and educated at Eton and King's College, Cambridge. In 1599 he accompanied Essex to Ireland as chaplain...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ramsey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ramsey Ranking

the United States, the name Ramsey is the 327^th most popular surname with an estimated 82,071 people with that name. 2

Migration of the Ramsey family to Ireland

Some of the Ramsey 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.

Ramsey migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the Second Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Second Fleet

Mr. George Ramsey, British settler convicted in Surrey, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Third Fleet" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 3

Following the Second Fleet, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Ramsey Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Alexander Ramsey, Scottish convict who was convicted in Aberdeen, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Chapman" on 12th April 1826, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
Harriet Ramsey, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Aden" in 1849 5
George Frederick Ramsey, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Elizabeth" in 1849 6
James Ramsey, aged 25, a miner, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Medina" 7
Eliza Ramsey, aged 19, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Sea Park"
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ramsey migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Ramsey Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Dr. Ramsey, Scottish settler travelling from Greenock aboard the ship "Philip Laing" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 15th April 1848 8
John Ramsey, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oliver Lang" in 1858
Miss Janet Ramsey, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "New Great Britain" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 10th August 1863 9
James Ramsey, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Excelsior" in 1869 10
William Ramsey a ploughman, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Celestial Queen" in 1872
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ramsey migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 11

Ramsey Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. Robert Ramsey, (b. 1620), aged 15, British settler travelling aboard the ship "The Dorset" arriving in Barbados in September 1635 12
Henry Ramsey, who arrived in Barbados in 1656

Ramsey migration to Canada +

Ramsey Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Elenor Ramsey, aged 26, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Madawaska" in 1833
Robert Ramsey, aged 23, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Ambassador" in 1834
Jane Ramsey, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Ambassador" in 1834
William Ramsey, aged 2, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Ambassador" in 1834
Isabella Ramsey, aged 6 months, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Ambassador" in 1834

Ramsey migration to the United States +

Ramsey Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Jo Ramsey, aged 30, who settled in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Globe" 13
Penelope Ramsey, who arrived in Virginia in 1636 14
Morgan Ramsey, who landed in Maryland in 1653 14
Bar Ramsey, who arrived in Virginia in 1653 14
James Ramsey, who settled in Virginia in 1654
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Ramsey Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Ramsey, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 14

Ramsey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Alexander Ramsey, aged 22, who landed in New York in 1812 14
Samuel Ramsey, aged 31, who landed in New York in 1812 14
George Ramsey, who arrived in New York, NY in 1815 14
William Ramsey, aged 6, who arrived in New York, NY in 1818-1819 14
Cuthbert Ramsey, who arrived in New York in 1819 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Ramsey (post 1700) +

Bella Ramsey (b. 2003), born Isabella May Ramsey, an English Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award nominated actor, best known for their role as young noblewoman in the HBO fantasy television series Game of Thrones (2016-2019) and Ellie in the HBO post-apocalyptic drama series The Last of Us (2023-present)
William Newman "Bill" Ramsey (1943-2020), English professional rugby league footballer
Frank Plumpton Ramsey (1903-1930), British mathematician, philosopher, and economist
Sir Alfred Ramsey (b. 1922), English soccer player/manager
Ronald B. Ramsey Sr. (1959-2025), American judge and politician, member of the Georgia State Senate representing the 43rd District, serving (2007-2015), appointment by Georgia Governor Nathan Deal to become a judge serving the Traffic Division of DeKalb State Court in DeKalb County
Ariana Ramsey (b. 2000), American rugby sevens player, who competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics winning bronze
Jalen Lattrel Ramsey (b. 1994), American football cornerback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League
Sarah Kathern "Kitten" Ramsey (1939-2022), American horse breeder and co-owner of Thoroughbred race horses with her husband Ken Ramsey, together they have had multiple graded stakes winners, three Breeders' Cup winners, and won multiple Eclipse Awards for outstanding owner and breeder
Marion Ramsey (1947-2021), American actress and singer, best known for her role as the soft-spoken Officer Laverne Hooks in the Police Academy films
... (Another 9 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Ramsey family +

HMS Cornwall

William Gordon Ramsey (d. 1942), British Able Seaman aboard the HMS Cornwall when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 15

The Ramsey 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.

Sources +

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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 28th January 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/chapman
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Aden from London via Plymouth Adealide Arriving September 12th 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849AdenRegister.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ELIZABETH 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Elizabeth.htm
South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) MEDINA 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/medina1852.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 4th November 2011). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 29th September 2021. Retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
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)
Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A