2000
#143,847
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 106
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Ransley
A locative surname deriving from a place name, likely Ransley in Derbyshire, England.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 134 Americans carry the last name Ransley. That puts it at #144,270 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,557,868 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Ransley surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Ransley with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
134
1 in 2,557,868
Census rank
#144,270
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
117
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 117 bearers of the surname Ransley in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 144270th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Ransley, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.0%) and Two or More Races (2.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Ransley
The surname Ransley has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the Old English words "rand" meaning "border" or "edge" and "leah" meaning "woodland clearing" or "meadow". This suggests that the name likely originated from a place located on the border of a woodland area.
One of the earliest known references to the name Ransley appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1196, where it is recorded as "Randeslegh". This spelling variation provides insight into the potential pronunciation and evolution of the name over time.
In the 13th century, the Ransley surname can be found in various manorial records, such as the Curia Regis Rolls of 1208, where it is listed as "Randesleia". This indicates that the name was well-established and associated with landowners during this period.
The Ransley family is thought to have been of considerable importance in the county of Gloucestershire, with some members holding positions of authority and influence. One notable individual from this era was Sir John Ransley, a knight who served in the court of King Edward III in the mid-14th century.
As time progressed, the name evolved through different spellings, including Randsley, Randsleigh, and Randesleigh, before eventually settling on the modern form of Ransley. These variations reflect the influences of regional dialects and scribal interpretations.
During the 16th century, the Ransley family gained prominence in the county of Somerset, where they were landowners and prominent members of the local gentry. John Ransley (1525-1592) was a respected member of this family, serving as a magistrate and holding significant landholdings in the area.
Another notable figure bearing the Ransley name was Sir Thomas Ransley (1620-1678), a wealthy merchant and philanthropist from London. He was instrumental in establishing several charitable foundations and endowments, leaving a lasting legacy in the city.
In the 18th century, the Ransley family had established roots in the county of Wiltshire, where they were prominent landowners and farmers. One member of this branch was William Ransley (1742-1817), a successful agriculturalist and innovator in farming techniques.
The 19th century saw the Ransley name spread further across England, with individuals from this family achieving recognition in various fields. One such person was Sir Robert Ransley (1810-1892), a renowned architect responsible for the design of several notable buildings in London and other major cities.
Throughout its history, the Ransley surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, contributing to the rich tapestry of English society and culture.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Ransley
Among Census respondents with the surname Ransley, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.0%) and Two or More Races (2.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Ransley bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Ransley surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White89.7% · 105
- Hispanic or Latino6.0% · 7
- Two or more races2.6% · 3
- Black or African American0.9% · 1
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Ransley
Ransley appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#145,220
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 114
+8 bearers (+7.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 1,373 places
2020
#144,270
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 117
+3 bearers (+2.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 950 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #143,847 | 106 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #145,220 | 114 | 0.04 | +8 bearers (+7.5%) | Down 1,373 places |
| 2020 | #144,270 | 117 | 0.04 | +3 bearers (+2.6%) | Up 950 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Ransley surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #145,220 | #144,270 | 0.7% |
| Count | 114 | 117 | 2.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -2.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Ransley bearers went from 114 to 117 (+2.6% change). The surname moved up 950 positions in the national ranking, going from #145,220 to #144,270.
FAQ
Ransley surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Ransley?
Name Census estimates that about 134 living Americans carry the surname Ransley. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,557,868 residents.
How common is Ransley?
Ransley ranks #144,270 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 117 people with the surname Ransley. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (134), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Ransley.
Has Ransley become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Ransley went from 114 recorded bearers to 117. That is an increase of 3 (+2.6%). In the national ranking it rose from #145,220 to #144,270.
What does the Census say about the background of Ransley?
Among Census respondents with the surname Ransley, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.0%) and Two or More Races (2.6%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Ransley in the 2020 Census, accounting for 89.7% (105 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Ransley appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (89.7%), Hispanic (6.0%), Two or More Races (2.6%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Ransley (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Ransley mean?
A locative surname deriving from a place name, likely Ransley in Derbyshire, England. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Ransley (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Ransley?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.