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

Ranch, 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 Ranch surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ranch in America

Ranch is the 97210th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ranch surname appeared 187 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Ranch.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ranch 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 Ranch

The surname RANCH has its origins in France, dating back to the late 15th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "ranche," which referred to a branch or twig of a tree. This term was often used to describe someone who lived near a wooded area or on the outskirts of a village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname RANCH can be found in a census record from the village of Beaumont-le-Roger in Normandy, dated 1472. The document lists a "Jehan Ranche" as a landowner in the area. This spelling variation was common during that era.

In the 16th century, the name RANCH appeared in several legal documents and property records across northern France. Notably, a "Guillaume Ranche" was mentioned in a land dispute settlement in Rouen in 1532. This suggests that the name had gained some prominence among the local gentry.

The first known person of historical significance to bear the RANCH surname was Jacques RANCH (1580-1644), a French merchant and explorer. He was part of an expedition to the West Indies in the early 1600s and is credited with establishing trade routes between France and the Caribbean.

Another notable individual was Marie-Thérèse RANCH (1718-1801), a renowned French botanist and horticulturist. She is remembered for her extensive work on the classification and cultivation of various plant species, as well as her contributions to the development of botanical gardens in Paris.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the RANCH name spread across Europe as a result of migration and trade. In 1692, a "Johannes RANCH" was recorded as a merchant in Amsterdam, while a "Pedro RANCH" was listed as a Spanish sailor in a ship's log from 1755.

Another notable bearer of the RANCH surname was Sir William RANCH (1795-1871), a British army officer and politician. He served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a member of the House of Commons, representing the constituency of Southampton.

In the 19th century, the RANCH name began to appear in various places around the world, reflecting the increased mobility of the time. One example is John RANCH (1832-1911), an American businessman and banker who established one of the first banks in San Francisco, California.

Throughout its history, the surname RANCH has been associated with a diverse range of individuals from different walks of life, from explorers and merchants to scientists and politicians. While its origins can be traced back to rural France, the name has since spread across continents and cultures, reflecting the rich tapestry of human migration and settlement.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ranch

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

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 Ranch 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 Ranch 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 Ranch was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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