The Ramsays are supposed to have come from Huntingdonshire where Ramsey is a local name (Latin de Rameseia). The first of the name recorded in Scotland is Simund de Ramesie who witnessed the charter by Turstan filius Leuingus of the church of Livingston to the Abbey of Holyrood, c. 1153--65 or at least before 1175 (LSC., 17). He also witnessed a confirmation charter by William de Moreville of the lands of Gillemorestun to Edulfus filius Uctredi before 1196 (REG., I, p. 40). Symone de Ramsay witnessed a charter by Gilbert, earl of Strathem before 1198 (LIM., p. xxiv), and William de Rameshej witnessed a charter by William the Lion before 1200 (LSC., 48). Nessus de Ramisseia or de Ramesia, medicus domjni regis, was a charter witness, c. 1220-32 (CMN., 7, 9, 11). William de Ramessay who witnessed a charter by David de Lysurs to the Abbey of Neubotel, c. 1233-36 is the first to appear under the designation 'de Dalwussy' (i.e. Dalhousie) (Neubotel, p. 28). William de Rammeseye and several others of the name rendered homage, 1296 (Bain, II). Sir Alexander Ramsay of Dalhousie was starved to death in Hermitage Castle, 1342 (Tytler, History, I, p. 188). Michael de Ramesay was sheriff of Fife in 1395 (RPSA., p. 2), and Hugo de Ramesay was one of an inquest on the marches of Kyrknes and Louchor in same year (ibid., p. 3). Ry the middle of the thirteenth century the Ramsays appear as landowners in Angus and in the following century they are divided into several branches. Ramesey 1378, Rameseye 1293, Ramhishay 1328, Ramissay 1320, Ramsa 1510, Ramysey 1261, Remesey 1316.

V. Ramsey.

(English and Scandinavian) belonging to Ramsey = 1 HRAM’s or Hræm(n)’s Island or Waterside [the genit. of Old English hræm(n, a raven + ég, í(e)g, island, etc.] 2 Ram’s Island or Waterside [the genit. of Old English ram(m, a ram] 3 Ram(m)'s Island or Waterside [the genit. of Old Norse ram(m)-r, strong + ey, island, etc.] Ramsey, Hunts, occurs in A.-Saxon charters both as Rameseg and Hrameseg. Ramsey, I.o.M., was anciently Ramsöe [Dano-Norwegian ö, island] Simon de Ramsey in Huntingdon settled in Scotland in the 12th century.—MacBain, Inverness Names, p. 71.

Place name in Isle of Man.

(Scottish, English) One who came from Ramsay (ram's isle), in Scotland, or from Ramsey (wild garlic island), the name of places in Essex and Huntingdonshire.

This name is totally distinct from that of Ramsey. The Earl of Dalhousie's family are said to be of German extraction. They are traced from Simon de Ramsay of Dalhousie, in Lothian, temp. David I. 1140. The lands of Ramsay are in Argyleshire.

Local: from the village of Ramsay in Huntingdonshire. The Scottish branch of the family are descended from Simon de Ramsay of Dalhousie in Edinburghshire, temp. David I. The Abbot of Ramsay bore on his seal a ram in the sea, with this verse: "Cujus signa quo dux gregis ut ego;" He whose signs I bear is leader of the flock, as I am.

Or De Beauchamp. Hugh de B. of Normandy, first Baron of Bedford t. William I., was father of Oliver, father of Paganus de Beauchamp of Eaton, Bedford, founder of Chicksand Priory c. 1150 (Banks, D. and Ex. Bar.). His son Hugh appears to have had a brother Simon. Simon de Beauchamp being seneschal to the Abbey of Ramsey, was surnamed De Ramsey, and had grants in Scotland c. 1140. William de Ramsey, probably bis grandson, witnessed a Scottish charter before 1198. Branches of the De Ramseys occur in Hunts, Bedford, and Essex 12th cent. (Rotuli Curiae Regis). They appear to have held the office of seneschal of Ramsey. Roger ‘the Seneschal’ occurs c. 1199 as Roger ‘de Ramsie.’ He also appears as Roger ‘ Fitz-Simon ’ (Rotuli Curiae Regis). This Simon with Hugh his brother appears 1165 as Simon ‘de Bellocampo,’ holding lands from the Abbot of Ramsey, no doubt as seneschal (Liber Niger). The English line of Ramsay bore ‘argent a fesse gules,’ merely varying in tincture from that of the De Beauchamps, who bore ‘or, a fesse gules.’ The Earls of Dalhousie are of this family.

A location name in Essex, on the Isle of Man, South Wales.