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RING Family History

This interesting name, with variant spellings Ringe and Rings, derives from the Old English pre 7th Century "hring" meaning ring. The Old High German word "hring" and the Old Norse "hringr" have the same meaning, and consequently, the surname may also be either German or Scandinavian in origin. It is generally accepted that Ring was originally given as a metonymic occupational name to a maker or rings, to be worn either as jewellery or as component part of chain-mail, but latterly, in Scandinavia it was adopted as an ornamental name. The surname was first recorded in England at the beginning of the 13th Century, (see below)...