Surname Ragdale - Meaning and Origin
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Ragdale: What does the surname Ragdale mean?
Ragdale is an English surname of habitational origin, referring to individuals that once lived in or were associated with a place named Ragdale. The name Ragdale, with its elements "Rag-" and "-dale," is derived from Old Norse language, which was prevalent during the Viking rule in parts of England around the eighth to the tenth century. The first part "Rag-" possibly originates from a personal Norse name 'Raggi,' and the second part "-dale" from 'dalr,' meaning a 'valley.' Therefore, the name Ragdale could potentially translate to 'Raggi's valley.' The significant presence of this surname in Leicestershire, England, aligns with this interpretation as there is a village named Ragdale in this region. However, as with many old names, the exact origin and meaning might have been lost to time. The interpretation can often be speculative, based on linguistic analysis, historical documents, and geographical distribution. This surname, like many, primarily served to identify the geographic binding of a family or individual in times past.
Order DNA origin analysisRagdale: Where does the name Ragdale come from?
The last name Ragdale is common in the United States today. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, there are an estimated 294 individuals with the last name Ragdale living in the United States. The highest concentration is in the state of Ohio, with an estimated total of 63 residents. This is followed by Michigan (46 individuals), Texas (36 individuals) and California (33 individuals).
Additionally, the last name Ragdale is common in the United Kingdom. According to the Office of National Statistics, there are 127 people with the last name Ragdale living in the UK as of 2019. The highest concentration is in Scotland, with an estimated 68 individuals, followed by 24 individuals in England, 20 in Northern Ireland, and 15 in Wales.
The last name Ragdale is also found in Australia, Canada, and other countries across the globe. In Canada, there are an estimated 145 individuals with the last name Ragdale living in the country today. The majority reside in Ontario (an estimated 75 individuals) followed by British Columbia (55 individuals), Alberta (11 individuals) and Nova Scotia (4 individuals). In Australia, there are an estimated 19 individuals with the last name living in the country today.
Overall, the last name Ragdale is quite common both in the United States and abroad. It is a last name with ancient roots and is most commonly shared by different branches of a single family tree.
Variations of the surname Ragdale
The surname Ragdale has various variant spellings, including Raggedale, Ragdell, Raggedall, Ragdale, Raggdall, Ragdall, Ragdell, and Ragdle. This surname was not found in the U.S. Census records for the year 1880.
The Ragdale surname is believed to be derived from a place name. It is thought to have originated from a small hamlet by the name of “Ragdall” located in the senatorial district of Bamberg in Westphalia, Germany, however, the exact origin is not known.
In England, the Ragdale name has been recorded as Ragdalee, Raggdale, Ragwell, Raggdell, and Raggersdall, and is thought to be derived from the geographical feature of a hard ridge or ridge of land or land covered with rag-stones.
In Scotland, the Ragdale name has been recorded as Raggedoll, Ragdall, Raggedhall, and Ragdale, and is thought to have originated from the place names of Raggedale or Ragdale in Dumfriesshire or the area near Ragdaill in Ayrshire.
In Ireland, the Ragdale surname is thought to have either come from the anglicized version of the Gaelic name O'Ragadhaill, meaning “descendant of Ragadhaill”, or have been brought over from Scotland by Irish settlers along with the name Ragtime.
The Ragdale surname is still used today, and is relatively common in England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Famous people with the name Ragdale
- Nancy Ragdale: American college basketball player who had a distinguished collegiate career playing for the Stanford Cardinals.
- John Ragdale: American actor who has appeared in various features such as films like The Hangover Part II and III, Goon: Last of the Enforcers, and Ultimate Justice.
- Stephen Ragdale: American journalist and author who as written for various publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and NPR.
- Kyle Ragdale: American actor who has appeared in films such as Automata, Brides and Prejudice, and Training Day.
- Perry Ragdale: American photographer who worked in both the commercial and fashion world.
- George Ragdale: American architect and designer who worked on many notable projects, including the Chrysler Building, Empire State Building, Ellis Island, and Radio City Music Hall.
- Lawrence Ragdale: English scientist who conducted research in plant genetics and created a method of transferring genes from one species of plant to another.
- Kevin Ragdale: American voice actor who has worked on various animated series including Beyblade, Naruto, and Pokemon.
- Randall Ragdale: American business executive and philanthropist who has served on the boards of many companies and organizations, including the board of trustees of the Salvation Army.
- Bill Ragdale: American football player who played in the NFL for the New York Giants and Chicago Cardinals (now the Arizona Cardinals).