Surname Ransome - Meaning and Origin

Ransome: What does the surname Ransome mean?

The surname Ransome is primarily of English origin and dates back to the pre-7th century. It comes from the Old English word "raedsum" or "ransum," meaning "dividend, reward, or share". The surname could have possibly been used to denote a person who was considered a reward or a blessing. It may also have been used to symbolize the "ransom or redemption" of one's sins in a religious context. Over time, the spelling of the name has gone through various transformations such as Randsum, Ransom, Ransum, and eventually settled on Ransome. Today, it is popular as both a given name and a surname in various parts of the world. Like most surnames, certain alternate derivations do exist. For instance, it may also be derived from a location, specifically a place formerly known as "Randsham" in England. In the context of this location, the name would mean "the village (ham) on the boundary (rand)". The name's popularity has been further boosted by notable bearers such as the famous British author Arthur Ransome.

Ransome: Where does the name Ransome come from?

The last name Ransome is most commonly found in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is believed to have originated from the Norman surname Ransom. It is a fairly rare surname, appearing only very occasionally in the records of other countries such as Australia and the United States.

In the UK, the last name Ransome is most commonly found in the historical English counties of Yorkshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, and Lincolnshire. The highest concentration is in the north-east of England, with clusters of people with the last name recorded in Durham, North Yorkshire, and South Yorkshire.

In Ireland, the last name Ransome is most common in the province of Ulster. It is generally believed that Ransomes in this region are descended from settlers from the county of Cheshire in England during the Plantations of Ulster that took place in the early seventeenth century.

Finally, in Australia the last name Ransome is also quite common but is overwhelmingly concentrated in the two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne. It appears to be a melding of the UK and Irish branches of the same surname, with many of these Ransomes descended from both British and Irish settlers who arrived in the nineteenth century.

Variations of the surname Ransome

The surname Ransome can vary in spelling and in some cases take on a different form which demonstrate the same origin. Variant spellings include Ransom, Ransom, Ronsome, Rounsom, Rounseom, Ranzom, Raonsom, Raunsome, Raonsome, Raynson, Rainsome, Ransime, Randsome and Reinsome.

Surnames of the same origin can include Ransom, Ransommer, Ransoma, Ransomson, Rainson, Rainsome, Raynsomer, Rainesom, Rainsomson, Raitness, Raynsomson, Raymesom, Raynsoner, Rainsombe, Raynmomber, Ranzombe, Ranzoomer, Raunsum, Rocketsum and Rankin.

Many times, where and when these variations and surnames first appeared cannot be ascertained. However, some research shows that the name may have been used as far back as the 16th century in England. During this period, records show that the name Ransome was used in the towns of Ashby, Leicestershire and Retford, Nottinghamshire. It is possible that the surname originates from Norman, French and Dutch influence.

In colonial America, similar surnames including Ransoms and Ransickson have been located in the 1600s. Likewise, records of the same surname have been found in Scotland as early as the 1500s.

Different spellings of the surname Ransome can also be found in other parts of the world, including Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, India and Germany.

Overall, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Ransome reflect an interesting and broad history.

Famous people with the name Ransome

• Arthur Ransome: British author, most famous for his 'Swallows and Amazons' book series.
• Herbert Ransome: British biologist, author and educationalist.
• Ruth Ransome: British actor and singer.
• John Ransome: British actor, most famous for the role of Ironside in the award-winning television series.
• Edith Ransome: English illustrator and author of children's books.
• Graham Ransome: British author, most famous for his novel 'The Black Horse'.
• Lewis Ransome: British actor, best known for his recurring roles on TV shows such as Doctor Who and EastEnders.
• Christopher Ransome: British professor of classics and author of numerous books.
• Simon Ransome: British scientist, most famous for his research on the effect of acid rain on aquatic ecosystems.
• Charles Ransome: British soldier and author, best known for his memoir 'My War Adventure'.

Other surnames

RansomRanson