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

Ranson, 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 Ranson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ranson in America

Ranson is the 10274th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ranson surname appeared 3,138 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 Ranson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ranson 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 Ranson

The surname Ranson is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English personal name "Randolf" or "Randolph," which means "shield-wolf" or "rimmed wolf." The name may have originated in the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire and Northumberland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ranson can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Ranulphus" or "Randulf." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, recorded the names of landowners and their holdings throughout England.

In the 13th century, the name Ranson was also found in various ancient manuscripts and records, often spelled as "Ranson," "Ransonn," or "Ransoun." These variations in spelling were common during that time due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

One notable individual with the surname Ranson was Sir John Ranson, a Member of Parliament for Yorkshire in the late 14th century. Another early example is William Ranson, a merchant and landowner in Norfolk, England, who lived during the 15th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Ranson was associated with several prominent families in various parts of England. For instance, the Ransons of Lincolnshire were a well-established gentry family, with Richard Ranson (1570-1640) being a notable member who served as a Member of Parliament.

In the 18th century, the surname Ranson was found in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Northumberland, and Lincolnshire. One notable figure from this period was Thomas Ranson (1738-1810), an English clergyman and author who served as the Master of Charterhouse School in London.

Another individual of note was Samuel Ranson (1720-1789), a British naval officer and explorer who participated in several voyages to the Pacific Ocean and made significant contributions to the mapping of the region.

The 19th century saw the surname Ranson spread across various parts of the British Empire, with individuals bearing the name settling in North America, Australia, and other colonies. One noteworthy figure from this period was Henry Ranson (1812-1886), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. John the Baptist in Hackney.

Throughout its history, the surname Ranson has been associated with various professions, including merchants, landowners, clergymen, naval officers, and architects, among others. While the name has undergone slight variations in spelling over time, it has maintained its English origins and connections to the northern counties of England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ranson

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

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

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

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