Surname Ringgold - Meaning and Origin
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Ringgold: What does the surname Ringgold mean?
The last name Ringgold is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is believed to have geographical roots. It is thought to be derived from a location name, possibly referencing a region in England. The name is possibly a combination of two words: "ring" which could refer to a circular feature in the landscape, such as a ring-shaped hill or earthwork, and "gold," suggesting that the area was rich in natural resources or was of special value. It might have been the name of an ancestral estate, or a prominent landmark related to the initial bearer's residence. In some cases, surnames were taken or given based on a significant or recognizable feature of the landscape of one's home or birthplace. While the true meaning may be lost in history, the interpretation of the name signifies the ancestral connection to a specific geographical location.
Order DNA origin analysisRinggold: Where does the name Ringgold come from?
The last name Ringgold is most common today in the United States. According to the latest US Census data, the last name Ringgold is ranked 7,873 for the year 2020. The name is most heavily concentrated on the East Coast, with states like Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware having the highest occurrence.
In Pennsylvania, for example, Ringgold is the 1,117th most common last name. Similarly, in New Jersey, it is the 1,705th most common last name, while in Delaware it ranks as the 1,043rd most common last name.
The surname Ringgold is also found throughout England and Scotland. Since the 1500s, records indicate it has been localized to counties like Cumbria, Yorkshire, Sussex and Oxfordshire. In more recent times, the last name is found mostly in Lancashire, with the largest cluster of Ringgolds residing in the city of Manchester.
The surname is also found in Africa, where South African Ringgolds trace their lineage back to the 1700s. There, the surname is believed to have African origins.
Finally, the last name is also found among the citizens of Jamaica. Most Jamaican Ringgolds are descendants of slaves who were taken from West Africa between the 17th and 19th centuries.
All in all, the surname Ringgold has a rich and varied history spanning both the old and new world. It has been scattered to many different areas, but is especially common today in the United States, England and Scotland, South Africa, and Jamaica.
Variations of the surname Ringgold
Ringgold is a surname of Anglo-Saxon origin and there are several variants of it. Alternate spellings of the surname include Ringgolds, Ringgould, Ringgoulde, Ringgaold, Ringgole, Ringcole, Ringecole, Ringegold, Ringkel, and Ringle. The surname has also been recorded in several other languages; for example, the French surname Rincagneau, the German surname Ringgenberg, and the Dutch surname Ringel.
The early versions of the surname have been derived from a combination of two Old English elements; 'the hring' and 'gold'. The earliest historical record of the name was Sir Robert de Ryngegald, recorded in Latin documents in Scotland in 1160; he was an influential baron and fought at the Battle of Bannockburn.
In England, Ringgold was a relatively uncommon surname, with the earliest recorded instance being of William Ringgole in Shropshire in 1548. In festive Scotland, the computing of the surname is a bit more numerous, with the earliest mention in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1248.
In the United States, some of the variant spellings have become standardized as 'Ringgold'. As English settlers arrived in America, the spelling of the name became more assimilated to American English, and the spelling Ringgold became more common. The first recorded person with the name to arrive in the United States was Elizabeth Ringgole, who sailed from London aboard the 'Jasper of London' in 1654.
In conclusion, Ringgold is an English-originated surname, with several variant spellings and surnames of the same origin (i.e. Rincagneau, Ringgenberg, and Ringel). The earliest recorded instances of the name appear back as early as 1160, but the spelling became more assimilated to American English with the arrival of English settlers in the United States in the 17th century.
Famous people with the name Ringgold
- Faith Ringgold: an American artist, activist, and author, widely known for her painted story quilts that often incorporate elements from history, politics, and culture.
- Zachary Ringgold: an American retired professional basketball player.
- Franklin Ringgold: an American mathematician and educator, known for his work in generalized functions, differential geometry, and geometric probability.
- Julia Ringgold: an American stage actress, best known for her roles in classic plays such as Hamlet, The Merchant of Venice and Othello.
- José Manuel Ringgold: an American Olympic wrestler who competed in the sport of freestyle wrestling.
- William G. Ringgold: an American attorney, politician and jurist, best known for serving as mayor of Savannah, Georgia from 1856 to 1860.
- Reta Iris Ringgold: an American actress, best known for her roles in the films Hard Times (1975) and Skin Deep (1989).
- Hellen R Bluetooth Ringgold: an American activist and women's rights pioneer, best known for her work in the civil rights and the suffrage movement.
- Adam H. Ringgold: an American businessman and former diplomat, best known for his role as Director of International Programs at Nautic-International.
- Alexander Ringgold: an American football player, known for his role on the Northwestern University football team in the late 1880s and early 1890s.