Explore the Family Name Ringer
The meaning of Ringer
1. English: occupational name for a maker of rings and other items of jewelry, from Middle English ringer(e), a derivative of the noun ring. An alternative possibility is that some ringers were makers of chain mail. Compare Ring. 2. English: occupational name for someone whose function was to ring church bells or a bell in a procession, Middle English ringer(e), agent noun derived from ringen ‘to ring’. 3. English: from the Middle English personal name Rainger, Reinger (Old French Reinger, from ancient Germanic Reginger, from ragin, regin ‘counsel, decision’ + gēr ‘spear’). 4. English: possibly an occupational name from a derivative of Middle English wringen ‘to wring or squeeze’, perhaps used for a wringer or presser of cheese. 5. English: possibly from the Middle English personal name Ringer (Old English Hringhere ‘ring’ + ‘army’). 6. German: occupational name for a turner, someone who made objects by rotating them on a lathe or wheel.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Ringer in the United States?
The surname Ringer, based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, saw a slight dip in popularity between 2000 and 2010. Its rank fell by 3.86 percent from 6191 to 6430 over the decade, marking a modest decrease in commonality. Despite this drop in ranking, the actual count of individuals bearing the surname Ringer increased during this period. In 2000, there were 5,092 people with this last name, and by 2010 that number grew to 5,283, a rise of 3.75 percent. However, when looking at the proportion per 100,000 people, it decreased from 1.89 to 1.79, a reduction of 5.29 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #6,191 | #6,430 | -3.86% |
| Count | 5,092 | 5,283 | 3.75% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.89 | 1.79 | -5.29% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Ringer
Looking at the ethnic identity associated with the surname Ringer, also based on the Decennial U.S. Census, there were some noticeable shifts between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of Ringers identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander more than doubled, jumping from 0.73 percent to 1.59 percent. Those identifying as belonging to two or more races also increased, growing by 35.29 percent. The White demographic remained the majority, although their representation slightly decreased from 87.45 percent to 84.91 percent. The Hispanic population saw an increase of 37.50 percent, while the Black community experienced a growth of 7.47 percent. Lastly, those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native also increased, rising from 0.16 percent to 0.28 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 87.45% | 84.91% | -2.9% |
| Black | 9.37% | 10.07% | 7.47% |
| Hispanic | 1.28% | 1.76% | 37.5% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.73% | 1.59% | 117.81% |
| Two or More Races | 1.02% | 1.38% | 35.29% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.16% | 0.28% | 75% |
Ringer ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Ringer is British & Irish, which comprises 40.4% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (32.2%) and Ashkenazi Jewish (6.3%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Scandinavian, Spanish & Portuguese, Korean, and Italian.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 40.4% |
| French & German | 32.2% |
| Ashkenazi Jewish | 6.3% |
| Other | 21.1% |
Possible origins of the surname Ringer
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Ringer have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 81.50% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 81.50% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 81.50% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 80.80% |
| Lancashire, United Kingdom | 80.80% |
What Ringer haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Ringer is R-P311, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-P311 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-L44 and R-M417, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Crooks, Child, Henkel, Howes, Bear, Wynn, Nagle, Baer, Boswell, Hood.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Ringer surname are: H1, J1c, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Ringer have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Ringer" Surname 31.7%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Ringer" Surname 29.0%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Ringer" Surname 21.4%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Ringer" Surname 16.5%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Ringer?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Ringer are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition