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

Ransom, 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 Ransom surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ransom in America

Ransom is the 2150th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ransom surname appeared 16,871 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Ransom.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ransom 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 Ransom

The surname Ransom is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "ranson" meaning "ransom" or "redemption price." It emerged in the late 12th century and was likely initially given as a nickname or occupational name to someone who had paid a ransom or worked in securing the release of hostages or prisoners.

The earliest recorded use of the surname Ransom dates back to 1202 in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire, where it was spelled as "Raunsum." This document listed landowners and taxpayers of the time.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms such as "Raunson," "Rancun," and "Raunsom" in various county records and medieval manuscripts, indicating its widespread use across England.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Ransom was Richard Ransom, who lived in Buckinghamshire in the late 13th century. He was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of 1273-1275, a survey of landholders in England commissioned by King Edward I.

Another notable figure was John Ransom, a merchant from Bristol, England, who lived in the early 15th century. He was involved in the thriving wool trade and is recorded in various business transactions and guild records from that period.

In the 16th century, the surname Ransom was associated with several prominent individuals, including William Ransom (c. 1516-1580), a Protestant reformer and English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Chester.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Thomas Ransom (c. 1605-1667) was a notable figure. He was a member of the Long Parliament and a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause against King Charles I.

Another individual of note was Robert Ransom (c. 1630-1690), an English navigator and explorer who led several expeditions to the Arctic regions in search of a Northwest Passage.

The surname Ransom has also been associated with various place names, such as Ransom in Buckinghamshire and Ransome in Norfolk, both of which likely derived from the surname itself.

Overall, the surname Ransom has a rich history dating back to medieval times, with its origins rooted in the concept of redemption and ransom payments, reflecting the occupations and activities of its early bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ransom

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

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

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

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