Ransom Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Ransom last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Ransom last name
Meaning of the Ransom last name: son of Rand. Ransom is an English surname meaning "son of Rand", a short form of Germanic names such as Randolph. The last name was common in East Anglia. It crossed to Massachusetts early and is widespread in the United States, where it is also used as a first name.
Arms associated with the Ransom name
Coats of arms associated with the Ransom last name belong to the English heraldic tradition, each with its own blazon.
Get your full Ransom family history
This is only a glimpse of the Ransom story. The full Ransom history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Ransom coat of arms. Get the full Ransom report.
Ransom name FAQ
What does the Ransom name mean?
son of Rand. Common variants include Ransome, Ranson.
Where does the Ransom surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Ransom coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Ransom coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).