Surname Ringus - Meaning and Origin

Ringus: What does the surname Ringus mean?

The surname Ringus originates from Lithuania, a country located in the Baltic region of Europe. It is derived from the Lithuanian word "ringas," meaning "circle" or "ring." This name might have been indicative of a person's occupation or a specific characteristic, such as shape or stature. For example, it may have been given to a person who made rings or wheels for a living, or the name might be descriptive of a person with a round or circular physique. However, the specific meaning and origin of the name can only be uncovered through detailed genealogical research. As with many surnames, over time, the spelling of the name may have changed due to factors such as migration and language evolution. It's important to remember that surnames can hold unique and personal connotations for each family.

Ringus: Where does the name Ringus come from?

The last name Ringus is not common today. It remains a rare name, with limited evidence of its prevalence in any specific region or country. The surname Ringus is most likely of German and Scandinavian origin, and it has been found in several birth records and other historical documents in the United States and Europe.

In the U.S., the last name Ringus is found in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Michigan, and Wisconsin, as well as in Maine and Vermont. These regions have had during the 19th and 20th centuries a substantial influx of German-speaking immigrants from the Scandinavian countries, Austria, Czech Republic, and Hungary.

The prevalence of the Ringus surname today is hard to trace because of its rarity, but it is likely that most of its remaining family lines reside in the northwestern regions of the United States and certain parts of western and central Europe. Some of these lines are connected to each other through marriage and other family ties, although much of the original family connection has been eroded over time.

Further research is necessary to clarify the origin of the surname Ringus and its global distribution today. It is likely that, given the scarcity of Ringus family lines, it is a dying out last name – hard to trace and unlikely to provide future generations with the connection to its illustrious past.

Variations of the surname Ringus

Ringus is an uncommon surname believed to have originated from Finland and other northern Baltic countries. In Finland, it is an old version of the name Rinkus, which dates back to the 16th century. Ringus was also found in Lithuania in the 17th century and is believed to have derived from the Baltic-Finnish root word rinku, meaning ‘bend’.

Variants and other spellings of the Ringus surname include:

• Rinkus, Rinkuš, Ringuš, Ringuš, Rinkusas, Ringusas

• Rinke, Ringen, Ringel, Ringelein

• Ringer, Ringers, Ringh, Ringhoff, Ringhau, Ringl

• Rinko, Rinkoff, Links, Linck, Lincken, Linkh, Linkhaus, Linkhauen

Alexander Ringe and Jacob Ringhaus were two of the earliest recorded bearers of the Ringus surname in Lithuania. Around the same time, Johann Rinker was recorded living in the parish of Essegenstadt in Germany and Chistopher Ringel was an early resident of Bohemia.

In America, John Ringus arrived in 1732 from Ireland and was the ancestor of the prominent Ringus family in Pennsylvania. Peter Ringus and his wife, Elizbeth, came to Wisconsin from East Prussia in 1854 and have many living descendants there. As of the 2000 census, there were at least 3500 persons bearing the Ringus, Ringen, or Rinky surname in the United States.

The largest concentration of Ringus surnames can be found today in Finland, Germany, the United States, England, Canada, Russia, and Lithuania.

Famous people with the name Ringus

• Kristian Ringus: actor and producer from Sweden.
• Tim Ringus: American professional soccer player.
• Ilya Lovable Ringus: Russian science fiction and fantasy writer.
• Robin Ringus: musician from Finland.
• Tommy Ringus: Danish professional footballer.
• Jacob Sorensen Ringus: Norwegian Olympic rower.
• Ole Bredesen Ringus: former Norwegian Greco-Roman wrestler.
• Sille Ringus Pihl: Danish swimmer.
• Howard Ringus: inventor of the concrete tumblewheel.
• Michael Ringus: American jazz multi-instrumentalist.

Other surnames

Ringuette