The name Ramsey originates from the Old English language, derived from the Old English words "ram" meaning "ram" and "ey" meaning "island" or "meadow by water." It is believed to have originated in the Anglo-Saxon period, around the 5th to 11th centuries AD.

The name was initially a place name, referring to a meadow or island where rams grazed. One of the earliest recorded uses of the name was in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentioned several places named Ramsey or Ramesie in England.

Ramsey has a long history of association with religious figures and institutions. In the 7th century, Saint Ramsey founded a monastery on the island of Ramsey in Huntingdonshire, England. The Ramsey Abbey, which was established in 969 AD, became one of the wealthiest and most influential monasteries in England during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest notable historical figures with the name Ramsey was Ramsey the Literate, a 10th-century English abbot and scholar at the Ramsey Abbey. He was known for his extensive knowledge of literature and his efforts in preserving and copying manuscripts.

Another significant figure was Thomas Ramsey (c. 1285-1349), an English philosopher and theologian who was a fellow of Merton College, Oxford, and later became the Chancellor of Oxford University. He made important contributions to the development of scholastic philosophy and logic.

In the 16th century, John Ramsey (c. 1520-1584) was an English diplomat and Member of Parliament who served as the ambassador to France during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

During the American Revolutionary War, Sir Andrew Ramsey (1740-1824) was a Scottish-American loyalist and military officer who served in the British Army and later became the first lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia after the war.

Another notable figure was Michael Ramsey (1904-1988), an English Anglican bishop who served as the 100th Archbishop of Canterbury from 1961 to 1974, playing a significant role in the ecumenical movement and the Anglican Communion during his tenure.