Surname Ransdell - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'R'
Ransdell: What does the surname Ransdell mean?
The surname Ransdell is of Anglo-Saxon origin, believed to have originated from England. It is a locational surname derived from a place name. This suggests that individuals or families bearing the name Ransdell might have been identified by their association with a particular locality or place. The name could have been used to denote someone who lived or worked in Ranstead (as in Ranstead Farm).
The component "ran" could possibly represent an Old English personal name or perhaps a toponymic element, while "-dell" could mean 'valley'. Hence, it may signify 'valley of a person named Ran' or 'valley with the raven'. However, surname meanings can often be speculative due to shifts in language over centuries and the nominal or topographical nature of many surnames.
Like many surnames, the spelling of Ransdell has varied considerably over the centuries, with Randesdale, Randasdale, Randesdell, Randisdale, and others being old variants. This might encompass different branches of the same family or different families entirely. It should be noted that the exact meaning may differ, and confirmation may require expertise in medieval language translations or historical research.
Order DNA origin analysisRansdell: Where does the name Ransdell come from?
The last name Ransdell is of British origin and is predominantly found in England and Wales. It is a locational surname that derived from a place named Ransdell in Suffolk County. In the 1881 census of England and Wales, the Ransdell surname was found most commonly in Suffolk, Norfolk, Middlesex, London, and Kent. This same pattern can still be seen today with high densities of Ransdells in the counties of Suffolk, Norfolk, and London.
In the United Kingdom, the Ransdell family is scattered across the entire country and can be found in towns and cities such as Ransdell Close in Suffolk County, Ransdell Avenue in Nottinghamshire, and Ransdell Park in East Sussex. Beyond England, small populations of Ransdells can be found in Scotland, the Isle of Man, Ireland, Canada, and the United States of America.
As with many English and Welsh surnames, some variants of the name, such as Ransdill, Randle, Randsell, Randel, and Rancel, exist. The Ransdell name is also fairly uncommon today, with only around 540 individuals in the United Kingdom sharing the Ransdell surname.
Variations of the surname Ransdell
The surname Ransdell is derived from a medieval personal name, possibly Reynold of Old French origin, from the elements rey(n), meaning ‘king’ and wald, meaning ‘rule’. The name may be a locational name, derived from the Old English words rann, meaning ‘border’ and dene, meaning ‘valley’.
Variants of the surname Ransdell include Randsdell, Ransdale, Ransdell, Ransdall, Ransdel, Ransdle, and Randell. There are also several variant spellings: Raundill, Ransdale, Rondell, Rundell, Randal, Ransel, Randsale, and Reinsdale.
The surname is also found in several different languages. In German, the name is spelled Ranstell or Ranstel; in Spanish it can be spelled Ransdel or Randal; in French it is spelled Ransdevil; in Italian it is Ransdelli; and in Dutch it is Ranselaar.
There are also numerous surnames that have similar origins, such as Randal, Renfel, Randolf, Reynald, Reynold, Reynalds, Reynolms, Renolds, Reignant, Randle, Renals, Reynell, and Randell.
The surname Ransdell first appeared in Scotland as a surname in the 1200s, but is more commonly found in England after 1600. Those that bear the Ransdell surname today can trace their ancestors back to the small villages and towns of England, Wales, and Scotland.
Famous people with the name Ransdell
- Jared Ransdell: American soccer player.
- Shane Ransdell: Actor, stunt man and stunt coordinator.
- Sylvester Ransdell: Convicted serial murderer.
- Grant Ransdell: Former member of the Kentucky House of Representatives.
- Patty Ransdell: American singer and songwriter.
- Ralph Ransdell: American airline pilot and World War 2 veteran.
- Andrew Ransdell: Australian Formula One racing team founder.
- Sarah Ransdell: United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky.
- Gary Ransdell: President of Western Kentucky University.
- Mike Ransdell: Former speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives.