Find out how popular the last name Ramsdell is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Ramsdell.

Ramsdell, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Ramsdell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ramsdell in America

Ramsdell is the 9747th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ramsdell surname appeared 3,325 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Ramsdell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ramsdell to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Ramsdell

The surname Ramsdell originates from England, with its earliest known roots traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "ram" and "dell," which together mean "a valley frequented by rams." This suggests that the name likely originated from a specific geographic location or settlement where sheep were commonly raised.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Ramsdell name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which list a person named Robert de Ramesdal. This document provides evidence of the name's existence during the Middle Ages in England.

In the 16th century, the Ramsdell name appeared in various parish records across several counties in England, including Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Hampshire. These records often showcased variations in spelling, such as Ramsdale, Ramsden, and Ramsdell, reflecting the inconsistencies in name documentation during that time.

Notable individuals with the Ramsdell surname include William Ramsdell (1570-1642), a prominent landowner and merchant in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. He was a contemporary of William Shakespeare and is mentioned in several historical records of the town.

Another notable figure was John Ramsdell (1633-1707), an early settler in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He arrived in America in the 1630s and became a prominent figure in the town of Ipswich, serving as a selectman and deacon.

In the 18th century, Samuel Ramsdell (1711-1785) was a prominent farmer and landowner in Kittery, Maine. He played an active role in the local community and served as a deacon in the Congregational Church.

During the 19th century, George Ramsdell (1830-1901) was a successful businessman and philanthropist from New York. He made his fortune in the lumber industry and donated generously to educational institutions, including Cornell University.

Finally, one of the more recent notable figures was Jesse Ramsdell (1882-1958), a distinguished American historian and professor at the University of Texas at Austin. He specialized in the study of Latin American history and authored several influential works on the subject.

The Ramsdell surname has a rich history dating back to medieval England, with its origins rooted in geographic locations and occupations related to sheep farming. Over the centuries, individuals with this surname have made significant contributions across various fields, leaving a lasting impact on their respective communities and societies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ramsdell

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Ramsdell.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Ramsdell was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Ramsdell has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Ramsdell was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ramsdell, please contact us.

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