Surname Ramelow - Meaning and Origin
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Ramelow: What does the surname Ramelow mean?
The last name Ramelow is of German origin. It may have been derived from the Middle High German word "ramelen," which was originally used to refer to bishops and archbishops due to their ability to control all three important clergy offices in their region: deacon, priest, and bishop. The name later came to represent a higher social rank and was often given to those who had achieved or held a status of respect in society.
Ramelow can also be derived from the Middle High German "ramelan," which was a term for unfree people - those not under the direct control of the nobility or of the church. Those with the Ramelow surname would likely have been of low social or economic status in the Middle Ages and were not free to leave their home region or to own land.
The surname is still in use today, with its spelling likely having changed many times over the centuries. Ramelows today may come from a range of backgrounds and from all around the world, though many likely still reside in Germany. Those with the name Ramelow are believed to be able to look back to a long and varied ancestral history, which likely included people of both high and low social ranking.
Order DNA origin analysisRamelow: Where does the name Ramelow come from?
The last name Ramelow is common in both Germany and the United States. In Germany, Ramelow is particularly common in the northern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where it ranks as the 39th most common surname in the country. In the United States, the Ramelow surname is primarily concentrated in the state of Connecticut, where it ranks at the 834th most common last name in the country. In the U.S., it is also found widely in the states of Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
The earliest known mention of the Ramelow surname comes from the Mecklenburg region of Germany. Ramelow is thought to have derived from the old German word "ramel," which comes from the Old High German word "rameleit," meaning grain or grain flail. This is thought to mean that the original holders of this surname were farmers from the area.
The surname also became prominent in the Nordic countries, becoming commonplace in Sweden and Norway after the 16th century. It is also found among Swiss nationals and is particularly common in the capital cities of Zurich and Bern. In the United States, the Ramelow surname is thought to have been brought to the country by German immigrants, especially in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
Today, the Ramelow surname can be found worldwide, reflecting the global dispersal of the name. Due to its rural origins, tracking the path of the surname can be difficult and the origin of specific branches of the Ramelow family can be difficult to trace.
Variations of the surname Ramelow
Ramelow is a surname of German origin. The most common variant spelling of the name is Ramlow, though some documents of old have referred to Ramelow as Ramelau or Ramla. This could be for various reasons, ranging from regional dialect to clerical error.
Ramelow is also a Jewish surname, often spelled as Ramlau or Ramlow; the source of this spelling likely derives from Yiddish, a language spoken by Jews in Central and Eastern Europe.
Other variants that have been recorded include Ramula, Ramlaw, Ramleau, Ramellow, Ramella, Rameleau, and Ramlauw.
When anglicised, the Ramelow surname is sometimes written as Rumlow, Romlow, or Ramlowe.
Common surnames of similar origin to Ramelow include Damelow, Gemelow, Remelow, and Samelow.
In addition to these variants, the surname Ramlow can also be found anglicised as Ramley, Ramly, Ramlee, Ramle, Remele, Remly, Ramli, Ramliw, and Elmow.
Finally, there are some less common spellings of the surname which include Rahmuelow and Raemelewa.
Famous people with the name Ramelow
- Rainer Ramelow: a German politician, he has been the Minister-President of the state of Thuringia since 2014, and was the parliamentary leader of the Left Party in Thuringia from 2009 to 2019. 2.Linda Ramelow: a German film actress, she is known for her performances in buffs such as Pan Tau (1970), Die schützenpanzer der Offizierin Whatshername (1976) and Die letzte Fahrt des schwarzen Tod (1989).
- Erwin Ramelow: a German TV actor, he is well known for his work in tv mini-series such as Wendtland (2006), Der geduldige Teufel (2007) and The Firm (2008).
- Anna Ramelow: a German singer, she has released several albums and singles since 2007.
- Hans-Ulrich Ramelow: a German entrepreneur, he is the founder and CEO of Unimut AG, a company specializing in the production of lattice masts and communication towers.
- Christoph Ramelow: a German actor, he is best known for his performances in films like Am Ende des Weges (2005), Im Schatten des Turms (2010) and Wir haben noch das ganze Leben (2011)
- Eric Ramelow: an American country music singer and songwriter, he is known for his hit songs “Blue Sky Lovers” and “We Must Believe”.
- Frank Ramelow: a German football goalkeeper, he currently plays for the second-division side FC Erzgebirge Aue.
- Heike Ramelow: a German theatre director, she has worked on several award-winning productions such as Wir Tanzen um die Welt (2005) and Die Jungfrau von Orleans (2007).